A year after introducing a controversial new pay scale for some county elected officials' employees, the county budget committee would like to replace the plan. Some of the elected officials, however, are not happy with the new plan either.

Last year's pay scale dictated that employees of the county mayor, county clerk, trustee, register of deeds, assessor of property, circuit court clerk, and clerk and master be given step raises at a percentage of their employer's pay. The county mayor earns about $10,000 more per year than the other elected officials, however, and his two workers make more money than others, causing the sticking point.

The county officials' salary is currently $65, 221 per year, while the county mayor earns $75,329 yearly. Some county officials consequently feel that the pay scale is not fair to their employees.

In an attempt to mend fences, the budget committee has suggested that the employees in the all of the offices, including those of the county mayor, would earn a percentage of the salary of county officials who make $65,221 per year. The employees of the mayor's office would not get a pay cut, but would not get a pay raise for some time.

The trustee, register of deeds, circuit court clerk, county clerk, assessor of property, and clerk and master presented a plan of their own at a recent budget committee meeting offering three options, neither of which was accepted by the budget committee.

In a prepared statement, the trustee, register of deeds, circuit court clerk, county clerk, assessor of property, and clerk and master wrote:

“Now, two years consecutive the budget committee has acknowledged the County Mayor’s office and employees are enduring a heavier workload and greater job responsibilities warranting a higher income for his employees. We have merely asked for our employees to be respected and treated equal in their position of employment. Also we feel these government offices perform basically the same daily duties while offering a variety of services.”

“During last week’s budget committee meeting, the five member board stated and all agreed they neither understand nor have full knowledge of daily operations of any elected officials’ office. However, later in the same meeting a member stated ‘the state of Tennessee says there is a salary and responsibility difference for the Mayor’s office, this is how we made our decision.” Further adding, “we used this method to get it off our back and put it in on the state”.

“After researching and speaking with leaders in state government there is no reference to the Mayor’s employees enduring, or providing more services or duties than any other elected office employees. The law is clear. The state only sets the salaries for elected officials. The state lacks an opinion to which office performs more and does not recommend one be paid more than the others."

"No county office is more important than the other. We all provide a service to the public. Due to the fact that other offices have employees with more seniority, merit, and equal or possibly more quantity of work but still are paid less concerns us. Every elected office is a vital asset to our county government. Each office has similar duties and obligations to fill. The decision of this committee not to match our employees pay as established for the Mayor’s employees while ignoring the views of all but one official is inadequate and complete disrespect to the officials, their employees and function of each office,” the response read.