County Workers Could Get $50 Monthly Raise

WATER VALLEY – The number crunching for the county’s 2012-13 budget gobbled up almost three hours during a recessed Board of Supervisor meeting held August 10.
    If the numbers hold, it appears each county employee will get a $50 monthly raise and the sheriff will receive a $5,000 annual raise, to $61,400.
    “I have got to ask for a raise for myself,” Sheriff Lance Humphreys told supervisors.
    “I have been sheriff for six years, going on seven years now and earned the same amount. There is still a cushion between what I am making and what I top out at,” Humphreys told supervisors.
    The sheriff’s salary is set by statute, based on  the population of the county and is $56,400 in Yalobusha. In addition, the Board of Supervisors may pay an annual supplement not to exceed $10,000 annually.
    Although Humphreys requested the full $10,000, supervisors agreed to $5,000 at the budget meeting.
    The last raise the sheriff got was $10,000,” Vaughn said, referring to an increase made by legislators prior to Humphreys’ tenure as sheriff.
    Vaughn pointed to higher salaries earned by Chancery Clerk Amy McMinn, Circuit Clerk Daryl Burney and Tax Assessor/Collector Linda Shuffield.
    “He’s on duty 24-7 and having to deal with some terrible stuff out there. As far as I am concerned he is doing a good job. I think we need to give him a raise,” Vaughn said. He also noted increased responsibility for the sheriff with a new jail.
    As supervisors weighed a $5,000 or $10,000 increase, it also spurred the debate between giving a $50 or $100 monthly raise for county employees.
    “Instead of what I said a while ago, we are going the $50?” District Five Super-visor Frank “Bubba” Tillman asked.
    Fifty dollars was agreed upon after Vaughn suggested doing that amount this year and another $50 next year if the economy “does right” and the health insurance premium for employees doesn’t increase substantially.