Agenda 04-05-22; 6-c - Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) Board Request for Salary Range Update for the ABC Board General Manager

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5 22 The Chair of the Orange County ABC Board has requested that the Board of Commissioners consider allowing the ABC Board to grant a performance based salary increase to the ABC Board's General Manager that exceeds the State limitation. The FY2020-21 authorized salary for the Orange County Clerk of Superior Court is $107,625. The ABC General Manager's current salary is at that statutory maximum. Therefore, any merit based salary increase would exceed the State salary limit. According to the ABC Board's compensation policies, a performance rating of average or above would qualify for an increase of between three percent (3%) and five percent (5%). The ABC Board General Manager does not receive any additional compensation beyond the amount reported in his annual salary. The ABC Board is considering an across the board five percent (5%) increase for all ABC employees at its June 15, 2021 meeting. The ABC Board Chair is requesting authorization to grant a performance based salary increase of up to five percent (5%), which would result in a maximum salary of$113,006. Travis Myren reviewed the background information for the item. Commissioner McKee said he brought this item forward, and this has been done several times in the past. He said some communities were providing lavish salaries in the past, which may have generated the State law. Chair Price said she has an issue with providing this increase when no increases were provided for other County employees. Commissioner Dorosin said he has issues with percentage increases at the top end of the spectrum. He said it sounds fair because everyone receives it, but in truth, the gap in pay between top earners and lower earners, just increases. Commissioner Hamilton said she shares the concerns of Chair Price and Commissioner Dorosin. She said she does not know all the finances of the ABC board, but it seems that, given the impact of their service, more money should be flowing to impact people who suffer from the effects of alcohol. She said she has concerns giving ABC staff raises, when current County employees have not gotten any raises. Commissioner McKee said the raise would not be coming from County funds, and the ABC Board is an independent organization that is revenue positive. He said the more profits they make, the more they are able to provide back through the County, and organizations that address the impacts of alcohol. He said the increase is up to 5%, and the exact percentage is up to the ABC Board. He said new stores that have been built are doing extremely well, as well as remodeled stores. He said he understands that County did not give raises, but the ABC board is not part of the BOCC's budgetary process. He said the BOCC is just allowing the raise to be possible, and the ABC board will determine the specifics. He said this has been done before without any discussion. Commissioner Bedford asked if the ABC board has been able to maintain living wage for all employees. Commissioner McKee said yes, as far as he knows. Chair Price said she understands it is not County money, and it has been done before, but the County has not been in a pandemic before. She said if it was something that dealt with health, she would vote yes, but she will vote against it. A motion was made by Commissioner McKee to approve the ABC Board's request to exceed the statutory limit on the General Manager's salary by up to five percent (5%). The motion failed due to lack of a second