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Commissioner Gordon asked about the total percentage to bring employees to <br />the minimum and the 2.5°~ increase. Elaine Holmes said that the total value of the <br />package as a percent for permanent employees is 7.84% over the 27 months. <br />John Link said that the staff would come back in the fall and address this issue of <br />a housing wage analysis and review the pay plan. <br />Commissioner Jacobs said that he would like to see the alternatives before the <br />fall and would not like to wait six months. <br />Jahn Link said that he feels strongly about implementing Phase I. He said that <br />within the next month, he could find the money to pursue the housing wage within the <br />next two phases. <br />Commissioner Carey suggested that the Board proceed with Phase I now and <br />then gets the information for the housing issue as soon as possible. <br />Chair Brown suggested including the compression piece also. <br />Commissioner Halkiotis said that he is committed to this proposal but it depends <br />on what happens in Raleigh and the revenue picture with the State. There might be <br />some more "sneak attacks." He asked what would happen if something came up again <br />with the State budget and revenue to the County is decreased again. <br />John Link said that if something happens then we would regroup and have to <br />either postpone ar decrease this or other issues. The good news is that the State <br />cannot take the half-cent away. The biggest driver of the budget is the schools. He said <br />that his budget would address the new students that are coming in both systems and <br />maybe go beyond that. The next largest area of the budget is human services and it <br />does not look like the State is going to increase the Medicaid program and the County's <br />increase is going to be less than $200,000. The County does have a social safety net <br />and will have it again next year. He agreed with Commissioner Halkiotis that something <br />could happen, but at this time it does not look like anything catastrophic would happen. <br />Commissioner Halkiotis said that he wants to support this pay plan but the <br />County Commissioners do not control what goes on in the State capitol. <br />Commissioner Jacobs agreed with Commissioner Halkiotis. He wants to <br />proceed cautiously and he does not want to get rid of the social safety net. <br />Commissioner Gordon said that her feeling is that the Board is supportive of <br />Phase I. She said that no matter when the Board decides this it would be retroactive to <br />April 14tH <br />Commissioner Carey said that it creates anxiety in the staff when the Board says <br />that it is going to do something and then it decides to wait a few weeks to do it. It always <br />raises the possibility that the County Commissioners may change their minds. <br />Chair Brown said that she does not have a problem with adopting steps 1-4. <br />Jahn Link said that it is extremely important to address this tonight and Phases II <br />and I II will depend on the budget, but the Board needs to send a message to the staff <br />and pursue Phase I. <br />Steve Condrey said that Phase I targets the money where the County <br />Commissioners want it to be and it raises the lower positions up and it raises the salaries <br />of all employees. It would strengthen employee morale. <br />Chair Brown said that the other option is to not adopt it tonight and use it in the <br />bigger budget picture and perhaps cut back on the percentage increase. <br />Commissioner Jacobs said that what he means is that he would like to <br />incorporate into this some addressing of the hauling wage. He asked Elaine Holmes far <br />same permutations of how to build that in. If we go ahead with Phase I, then he still has <br />a question about whether or not we can incorporate it into the first phase if we have <br />already adopted the first phase. Secondly, he is hesitant to promise too much beyond <br />