By Katie Holland

Staff Writer

The Roseboro town board wants to make 100 percent sure that a three percent pay increase will be the best option for its employees. So, the members decided to have town clerk Drenda Ammons collect some data to figure out how their salaries range, according to the Maps Group, an independent firm that studies salaries of municipalities.

Tuesday afternoon, mayor Roland Hall reminded members they had asked Ammons to come up with a figure for a three to five percent pay increase, but he added that he felt it may not be appropriate to seek a five percent pay raise at this time.

“We just don’t think we should go any higher,” said Hall.

Hall said Ammons had taken the data and prepared a graphic showing how the salaries compare by grade. Currently, the town has a grading system of one through 15, with the lowest grade employee, a utility maintenance worker, at grade four with a starting salary of $17,106, and the highest grade employee being a the public works director with a 15 grade and a starting salary of $29,443.

In addition, Ammons provided a look at the salaries from grade one to grade 15 that compare the years 2000 and 2009. The data also shows hiring rates, mid-point salary rates and maximum salary ranges that were prepared by the Maps group.

According to the data, a person with a grade four position should start with a $21,719 salary but should make no more than $33,144. A person with a grade 15 salary should start at $37,383 and make no more than $55,328.

As the board looked at the data, the mayor reminded the board of what its mission should be in studying salaries.

“What we are trying to do is make sure that our people are being adequately compensated,” said Hall, “We want to make sure that we are not paying way below or way above the pay scale.”

However, he stressed that there was no way to make 100 percent sure the town’s salaries are exactly where they are supposed to be.

“There is no cookie cutter, and there is no town that is the same in organization. It is difficult to compare exactly,” said Hall.

Ammons then went into specific salaries of employees. She remarked that currently one of the town’s utility maintenance workers earns $24,000; with a three percent increase, his salary will be $25,500.

Hall noted after hearing what the increase would be, “this is still below the midpoint.” According to Ammons’ data, a midpoint salary for this position would be $26,932.

Ammons also provided salary information for the public works director, Buck Ammons, who currently makes $39,900. With a three percent increase, she said, that would bring the annual salary to $41,097, which the mayor pointed out to be right in line with where it is supposed to be with an increase.

The town clerk also said she currently makes $37,000. If she were to receive a three percent increase, she would earn $38,110 a year. She also pointed out that her maximum salary could only be $50,000.

The mayor then asked the board if the members wished to have some more data to study, including a graphic with all of the employees names and current salaries listed.

“That would be very helpful,” said Commissioner Cary Holland

“I don’t mind doing that,” said the town clerk.

Utility Budget

With a number of aging vehicles in the town’s fleet, public works director Buck Ammons asked for some new vehicles for his department.

According to the town clerk, who explained the request, being sought is a gripper truck with an estimated cost of $140,000, a pickup that would cost $25,000, a vacuum truck that would cost $50,000, a backhoe that would cost $90,000, a mudhog that would cost $2,800 and a utility saw that would be $3,100.

As she finished, Hall expressed that if the town were to even consider purchasing a new gripper truck, a tax increase would be inevitable.

“We can’t get that and not raise taxes,” said Hall.

Commissioner Arnold Sandy commented that it may be necessary to go without thenew equipment.

“Let’s try to make do with what we got now,” Sandy commented, noting it may be necessary to utilize some of the equipment, if it can fulfill another purpose.

For example, he stated that it may be possible to get rid of the backhoe as well.

“We could then take that money and apply that to purchasing a new one and ride out another year,” said Sandy.

Katie Holland can be reached at 910-592-8137, ext. 136, or by e-mail at silife@heartlandpublications.com.