County officials endorse raises, job changes

BENTONVILLE — Benton County officials endorsed a number of requests for raises, new job descriptions and departmental reorganizations Tuesday, saying the higher pay will be offset by cuts in other areas.

“We’re not asking for any new money at mid- year,” Barb Ludwig, human resources administrator, told the justices of the peace hearing the requests. “They’re all finding way to cover it within the budget.”

The Personnel Committee reviewed 15 proposed changes in six departments and approved the requests. All of the requested changes will now go to the Finance Committee, which is set to meet July 11.

The justices of the peace spent much of the meeting debating the merits of midyear changes. Bob Bland, justice of the peace for District 11, voted against all but one of the requests, saying he thought the changes should be part of the annual budget process, which begins in the fall. Bland did vote for a change in pay for two deputy public defenders from $57,782 to $62,000, which Public Defender Jay Saxton said mirrors a changes in state pay for those positions.

“Other than the one we just did for the public defender, I really have a problem doing anything at mid-year,” Bland said.

Brent Meyers, justice of the peace for District 14, argued that some of the changes didn’t merit an increase in pay. He specifically questioned raising the salary of Brenda Guenther, comptroller, from $97,222 to $102,083, because she’s now tasked with overseeing the Human Resources and Information Technology departments. Guenther’s job title would also change to comptroller/ administrator of shared services.

“Then why do we need an IT director?” Meyers asked. “So increasing the umbrella of supervision is all we’re doing and increasing the money.”

Ludwig said Guenther’s responsibilities increased with the shift to the two additional departments reporting to her. She said the county has to adapt to changes in the

workplace during the year, just as private businesses do.

“If you operate in a dynamic environment, could you stay within that budget without any changes?” she asked. “I don’t know of any business that could exist without the ability to make changes.”

J.D. Hayes, justice of the peace for District 3, asked if raises granted were permanent and tied to the job or if the pay increases were made for current employees.

Shirley Sandlin, justice of the peace for District 8 and head of the committee, said the changes aren’t permanent and a new employee would be graded and paid according to qualifications and job responsibilities.

“They are all tied to the qualifications,” Sandlin said.

The justices of the peace also forwarded to the Finance Committee changes in the Sheriff’s Office, Information Technology, Emergency Communications, and Building Maintenance. Ludwig promised the justices of the peace she would bring more detailed information to the Finance Committee showing the net effect on the county’s budget of all of the changes made this year.