BENTONVILLE — Benton County’s employees will receive Christmas bonuses this year, but the decision to approve the payments wasn’t made without debate.
The Quorum Court voted 14-1 to approve what the ordinance called a “salary adjustment” to be paid to employees as of Nov. 21. The justices of the peacedebated changing the date-of-hire requirement to July 1. Another amendment was suggested to include the justices of the peace in the bonuses.
Both amendments failed.
“It’s supposed to be a Christmas bonus,” Michelle Chiocco, justice of the peace for District 10, said of the proposal to restrict the bonuses to longer-term employees. “I don’t think we need to benit-picking about it.”
“It is in the spirit of Christmas,” said Tom Allen, justice of the peace for District 4. “It doesn’t matter when you started. At this time of year, with Christmas and the holiday season, everybody is going to be in the same situation. The spirit of it is to help out everybody.”
Barry Moehring, justice of the peace for District 15, cast the lone “no” vote on the bonuses.
“It’s not a question of whether or not our employees deserve this; they do,” Moehring said. “I really have two issues. First is the defi ciencies in our budget. Second, I have heard from a lot of my constituents who aren’t getting bonuses. I just don’t think the county can afford this now. It’s not what’s happening in the private sector.”
Full-time employees will receive $500 andpart-time employees will receive $250. The money for the bonuses will come from a $308,599 transfer from the health fund to the general fund. The total expense after calculating Social Security, retirement, workers compensation and other costs is $404,268. The bonuses will be paid Dec. 6.
The Quorum Court also approved several changes to employment and salary administration policy. The changes allow for certificate pay for employees, which was requested by Sheriff Kelley Cradduck.Cradduck told the justices of the peace certifi cate pay is common in law enforcement agencies and rewards employees for continuing their education through approved courses, completing specialized training related to their field and for their length of time with the agency.
Employees in other departments will be eligible for similar programs if the department head or elected officials overseeing the department submits a certificate pay plan approved by the Quorum Court.
Sports, Pages 11 on 11/27/2013