Ohio Public Employee Pay Raises Cause Criticism (ContributorNetwork)

Publically funded social services agencies in Hamilton County have been widely criticized for approving raises during these harsh economic times, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer. The county commissioners approved pay raises and bonuses for numerous public agencies, some of which are requesting operating levy approval during the spring election, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer. The largest pay increase granted by Hamilton County Board of Commissioners went to Assistant County Administrator Jeff Aluotto. The $15,000 raise brings the public employee's salary to $130,000 per year, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer.

Here are some facts and figures about the Hamilton County pay raises and bonuses:

* A total of 15 public agencies funded by Cincinnati area taxpayers received nearly $1.2 million in raises. The median increase of the 706 public employees granted raises was $1,425 per year. The county commissioners felt the raises were warranted because a number of positions were left vacant through attrition and many employees were forced to begin working 40 hour weeks, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer.

* Since 2008 Hamilton County has experienced budget cuts totaling $65 million, according to a county government budget report.

* County Board of Commissioners President Tom Chatham defended the raises, stating they were necessary to stop staff from resigning and going to work for other area public agencies which offered larger salaries, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer. Chatham also stated that is benefits residents when better employees are retained.

* The Public Health District granted 52 employees raises totaling $36,000, according to the meeting minutes.

* The Mental Health and Recovery Services Board approved raises for 33 public workers totaling $74,000, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer. Agency Director Patrick Tribbe now earns an annual salary of $225,014 per year. The agency plans to place a renewal levy on the November ballot. The agency oversees a $120 million budget to serve 27,000 drug and alcohol addiction clients.

* The Hamilton County Commissioners granted employees in the public defender's office a total of $227,094 in annual pay raises, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer. The top two county administrators and three public defenders received raises of more than $10,000.

* The Hamilton County Developmental Disabilities Services Board President Martin Miller defended the public employee pay increases during an interview with the Cincinnati Enquirer. According to Miller, the raises were based upon merit and only those workers providing quality service were rewarded.

* Hamilton County's 2012 budget totals $206.8 million. The commissioners maintain control over 1,200 of the 4,600 county workers, according to the county government budget report. The commissioners approved $350,000 worth of administration budget cuts during the past two years.

* County Auditor Dusty Rhodes does not agree with the county public employee pay raises, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer. Rhodes called the increase outrageous during a recent newspaper interview. The county auditor did not agree with coaxing more taxpayer funds from levies or from government programs.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/oped/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ac/20120117/cm_ac/10845245_ohio_public_employee_pay_raises_cause_criticism

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