The Cole County Commission on Tuesday approved a $57.2 million budget for 2013 with a 1.5 percent pay increase for county employees.
The $57.2 million budget reflects a 1 percent increase from the $56.6 million in the 2012 budget. Commissioners are already expressing concern about how they'll be able to address the budget for 2014.
The 2013 budget includes a 1 percent cost of living increase and a 0.5 percent merit increase for all employees, excluding county officeholders. In addition, the top half of the county's employees, based on performance evaluations, will receive a $400 bonus per year.