Pulaski Justice of the Peace Phil Stowers sends a note about the Quorum Court meeting Tuesday at which JPs will consider another pay bonus for county employees, a bonus plan that also covers county elected officials.
Stowers is not inclined to favor the bonuses. He makes a sound case for a county headed toward another year of deficit spending with a jail inadequate for criminal demands. He notes: Within the last 12 months, county employees have received 8 percent in bonuses and a COLA, with another 5 percent bonus on the table. Also significant: a county employee’s own health insurance is 100 percent covered by taxpayers, an inflation protection of significant value.
A 13 percent pay boost in 12 months, plus coverage of rises in health insurance costs, on the cusp of a recession with uncertain times ahead? Nuts. County Judge Buddy Villines, you have a veto pen, right, should this pass?
On the jump, a note he received from an employee of County Treasurer Debra Buckner and then Stowers’ comment to me and then his response to the employee: