In James City County’s proposed budget for fiscal year 2014, county employees are getting their first raise since 2008 without an increase in taxes and fees for county residents.
The proposed budget increased 3.1 percent from the fiscal year 2013 budget to a total of $171.5 million, including $79.3 million for the Williamsburg-James City County Schools, which is the full amount the schools requested from the county.
Revenue is expected to increase by about 3.1 percent as consumer spending increases — which is shown in the increase in sales, meals and lodging taxes, as well as real estate, personal and other property taxes — to cover the increased budget.
The budget for fiscal year 2014, which begins July 1, was planned as part of the 2013/2014 biennial budget, and County Administrator Robert Middaugh said not much has changed in the proposed budget. The programmed pay increase will come with a price tag of about $1 million. A 2 percent raise will be given to newer employees still in the introductory period, which is either the first six or 12 months of employment depending on the position.
Middaugh’s budget proposal also includes a pay scale shift to increase the starting pay for jobs by 2 percent and raising pay caps by 5.7 percent; this will shift the cap by a total of 7.7 percent. Raising the cap will not cost the county anything in fiscal year 2014, but raising the starting pay and giving the 2 percent increases is expected to cost about $30,000.
Raises will be given to employees prior to the pay scale shift, which means employees earning pay at the top of a pay scale will not receive the 3 percent raise.
“This will restore employees’ salaries to the same relationship to the top of their ranges that they had before receiving the 5.7 percent [Virginia Retirement System] offset, which did not increase their take-home pay,” wrote Middaugh in the budget message.
County employees who have health insurance through the county may see their premiums go up, Middaugh said, by an average of 9 percent. The cost could be higher by between $7 to $40 per paycheck, according to James City County Human Resources Director Carol Luckam. Middaugh proposed the county contribute 10 percent more toward health insurance premiums, which he has raised to cover a benefits consultant.
The benefits consultant will shop the insurance market to find the best policy and rates to benefit the county and its employees. The consultant will be paid from pooled funds from the insurance contribution increases.
The proposed budget includes about $47,500 for health care under the Affordable Care Act. There are 16 positions with employees expected to work between 30 and 40 hours per week, making them eligible for coverage should they choose to opt in. Because this portion of health care reform goes into effect Jan. 1, the county will need to pay for half a year of health care rather than a full year.
The budget proposal also allows for one new full-time position: a secretary for the police department, which had been included in the budget plan.
“My budget instructions were ‘don’t ask,’” said Middaugh, referring to requests for new positions from county offices.
Despite the direction, Middaugh said he received a handful of requests, mainly for administrative staff to help lighten the work load for existing staff under stress of the volume of work coming in. General services and the 911 call center each requested a staff member.
“We’re going to have to start addressing those things going forward,” Middaugh said.
He explained the county does not want to see the services drop off. Some part-time and temporary hours were allowed in the budget, to the tune of about 8,500 hours, or the equivalent of four full-time employees. The hours, however, are spread across several departments: Emergency Communications, Fire and Emergency Services, Parks and Recreation and Colonial Community Corrections.
There is a hope that some of the jobs will become permanent next year, Middaugh said.
A full copy of the budget is available online. Hard copies are available at the Williamsburg and James City County Libraries.
Citizens can provide comments at a public hearing during the April 9 Board of Supervisors meeting, can email comments to [email protected], or mail comments to James City County Administration- Budget at P.O. Box 8784, Williamsburg, VA 23187-8784.
Budget work sessions are scheduled for 4 p.m. April 9, 17 and 18. The April 17 and 18 dates are as-needed. The county expects the budget to be adopted April 23.
All board meetings and work sessions will be broadcast and on demand on JCC TV, Cox Cable channel 48, as well as on the county website.
