Commissioners approve salary increases

MIFFLINTOWN - A number of Juniata County employees will receive 4 percent salary increases in 2009, after the county commissioners and treasurer approved the motions Tuesday.

During the salary board meeting, elected officials met with the board to discuss and vote on the salary increase.

Employees who received the 4 percent increase include the first deputies in the coroner's, prothonotary's, register and recorder's, sheriff's, treasurer's and district attorney's offices, as well as the assistant district attorney, county detective and chief probation officer.

Commissioner Teresa O'Neal noted that a portion of the detective's salary is covered by a grant.

Prior to the approval of the salaries, Treasurer Sandra King asked the commissioners about a salary scale established and approved for the 2008 year.

The 2008 scale provided a set percentage increase for every employee as well as additional increases for those who worked in the district for certain numbers of years.

No salary scale was adopted for the 2009 increases, King pointed out.

She said if a salary scale is not established the distance between union employees' salaries may "close in on" higher officials' salaries.

"This is what we established last year," King said, of the 2008 scale. "I'd like to see all non-union employees have a salary scale."

Commissioner Dale Shelley said, "I've been thinking a lot about this. Right now we're in hard times. All of our (the county's) union contracts are coming due in 2010. We need to not jump overboard ... but see what happens with the next union contracts."

"Most people would be happy with a 4 percent increase the way the economy is going," Shelley said. "We'll look at more next year after the union contracts are settled."

During the regular commissioners meeting, the board:

Approved an application for county aid submitted by Monroe Township to encumber $4,868.03 for future projects.

Approved tax exonerations for Spruce Hill Township.

Approved Louis DiGiulio to serve a five-year term on the Industrial Development Authority.

The Juniata County Commissioners hold weekly public meetings at 10 a.m. Tuesdays in the Bousum Building, Main Street, Mifflintown.