Raises OK'd for Mercer County employees

MERCER, Pa. -- Mercer County commissioners approved raises averaging 2.8 percent for county employees Thursday.
John Logan, county fiscal director, said the 2006 wage increases will cost the county $229,000 out of an annual $8.1 million payroll.
Professional and administrative employees received either their annual step increase or, if they were between steps, received a $910 increase, which amounts to about 44 to 50 cents per hour.
Before this year the employees between steps did not receive a raise.
Technical and support staff received 20 cents more if they were unionized and 40 cents if they were not. Bill Boyle, director of administrative services, said that this equalizes wages and that the employees will not receive a cost of living increase -- noting the county has not given one since 2004. He added that some officeholders want to give merit raises but there is no provision for these in the county system.
Contracts for 2006 have still not been signed with the sheriff's staff or jail employees.
Also Thursday, commissioners hired Richard English and Associates Inc., Sharon, to do tax assessment, evaluation and related services for one year for $58,752.