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4 In answer to a question from Commissioner Gordon about the classification plan, Dr. Cordrey said that they evaluated all positions and came up with a new ranking of positions in the County. He collects data from the labor market and then determines what it would cost to put the positions on the salary scale. The new salary scale is higher than the old salary scale. Elaine Holmes said that the requirements for certain positions have changed and this has been considered which impacts how they relate to other positions. Commissioner Gordon asked that the term "equity" be changed to something else and Cordrey said that he would change this term. If the County does not do the equity piece, then he would recommend that the County not do any part of the study because it would cause disharmony among employees because you would not be taking care of the employees who have been here a number of years. Mr. Cordrey said that there were not any glaring differences in the study. He will have a full written report on the pay study in May. John Link commended Steve Cordrey, Personnel Analyst Elgin Lane, Elaine Holmes and staff. He said that every single employee completed the forms necessary for this report. He feels we are capturing in this study what people are really doing. Commissioner Brown asked if he took into consideration all the benefits the employees receive and Dr. Cordrey said that he did some review of the benefits but focused on the salary. There will be a summary of what they collected on benefits in the final report. Mr. Condrey said that this would give the County a great pay structure on which the County can then evaluate the benefits. Chair Jacobs asked if updating the living wage will affect this salary scale. Elaine Holmes said that the consumer price index went up 1.6% so she does not anticipate that this salary scale will be changed because of the living wage. Chair Jacobs said that he is interested in seeing how we compare to the housing wage. He questioned if there are other positions that require that you reside in close proximity to where you work. He made reference to the implementation plan and asked if parts one and three could be done together and how much that would cost compared with item two. The employees who have been with the County more than seven years would receive a step increase in phase 1 and phase 2. John Link said that he has told the Personnel Department to keep the increase to$900,000 or less each year. Chair Jacobs said that he would like to see more alternatives and a breakdown of implementing the phases of employment. It will need to be part of a mix of being more conservative in everything we do. Commissioner Gordon said that she does not expect next year to be better than this year, so alternatives that would give us a choice in what we may do would be helpful. Also, she would like to have this plan compared to the present plan and see other alternatives for phasing in this plan. In answer to a question from Commissioner Gordon about the regions chosen for comparison, Elaine Holmes said that regions were chosen which have similar labor market pressures. Dr. Cordrey noted that if the private sector were used for comparisons, the amounts would be higher. Commissioner Halkiotis asked to take the lowest paid positions and compare the employment in the County with the two school systems, the University and Blue Cross-Blue Shield. He asked for this information. He would like to know how the County competes with the two school systems, the University and Blue Cross-Blue Shield. In answer to a question from Chair Jacobs about what the County has done to help their employees advance, Elaine Holmes said that they are developing the career ladders in EMS and the Sheriff's Dept. Elaine Holmes said that the next step is to have the departments share with their employees the results of the pay study and receive their comments and to bring back to the County Commissioners a more detailed report. They expect to do this during the next two months. John Link asked that each County Commissioners be provided with a sampling of what some of the employees have submitted as part of this process and to share with the County Commissioners what staff has shared with the department heads.