Discussion centered around personnel and salary issues at Tuesday's Cole County Commission meeting as elected officials and department heads made suggestions for the 2018 budget.
The county auditor's proposed budget would grow by $4 million compared to last year - to $82.4 million, which includes money carried forward from 2017.
However, Cole County Auditor Kristen Berhorst said she's projecting little if any growth in sales tax revenue.
The proposed budget includes a 1 percent cost-of-living allowance for county employees, but it does not account for merit raises. Berhorst said while there wasn't enough money to budget merit raises, the county would continue to pay for employees' health and dental coverage.
Last year, the County Commission approved a $78 million budget including a 2 percent COLA and 2 percent merit pool. It also included new employees in the sheriff's and ambulance departments.
"I'd ask that you consider adding to the COLA or implement a merit pool," County Collector Larry Vincent said Tuesday. "I know - and I'm sure all other department heads feel - our employees deserve more money."
Commissioners said they will discuss the issue during budget meetings over the next few weeks.
The only new employees in the proposed budget are five for the ambulance service, due to a change approved in August to have ambulance employees work only 12-hour shifts and do away with 24-hour shifts to address an increasing volume of calls.
Ambulance Director Jerry Johnston proposed using ambulances 200,000-250,000 miles instead of 150,000 before replacing them. He also asked to take the money he planned use for a transfer ambulance to instead replace two older response SUVs for supervisors to respond to emergency medical calls, as not having a permanent crew to man the transfer van would make operating it unfeasible.
Johnson also requested $15,000 to award two scholarships for staff to receive paramedic education. The ambulance service will start the year with two paramedic openings.
Other requests for the ambulance department included $37,125 to upgrade radio equipment, as Johnson said their current portable radios are unable to get reception in many areas of the county.
County Health Director Kristi Campbell asked commissioners to consider $90,000 for new flooring at the health department's building on West Truman Boulevard. The department will move from its facility on Industrial Drive to the current Community Health Center location next summer.
County Facilities Manager Greg Camp requested a full-time employee to join a current part-time employee at the health department, as he anticipates more upkeep needs with the facility doubling in size.
Another request came from Cole County Public Administrator Joe Kuensting, who asked to hire a deputy who could take night or weekend calls for service.
Sheriff John Wheeler has asked the commission to increase funding for part-time deputies in the department's patrol division. Currently, $26,480 funds two civilian part-time positions, and an additional $21,200 would allow patrol deputies to work weekends and special events. They alternate working every other weekend and get 20 hours per pay period or 40 hours a month. Since June, the department used its two part-time patrol deputies for 984 hours at a cost of $16,500. If the hours had come out of overtime, it would have cost $24,836, Wheeler said.
Wheeler also asked to increase starting pay for sergeants and corporals, costing $25,000. He said they currently have a corporal making more money than a sergeant; so when he promotes staff, their current salary is past the current starting pay. To realign starting salaries, corporal starting pay would go from $38,800 to $40,000, and the starting salary for a sergeant would go from $44,800 to $46,000.
The commission is scheduled to have a public hearing and vote on the final budget Jan. 9.