COLUMBUS, Ind. – At the last Bartholomew County Council meeting, the council was unable to come to a decision as to whether over 200 Bartholomew County employees should receive a raise in pay. A recent wage survey had recently been completed and showed that those workers’ salaries would have to be increased to match the average pay of people who did the same job in other similar counties.
Three council members said yes to the motion to adjust salaries (Gorbett, Morales, Bonnell), three said no (Lentz, Duke, Pence), and one (Miller) was absent, deadlocking the vote. A controversy has developed over the nays.
Bartholomew County Sheriff Matt Myers offered his opinion in a statement released on Friday. He said the majority of the county council had already previously approved the survey, however, two of the members who voted no on the motion to approve had supposedly stated they were disregarding the survey because they had voted against it. The third negative voter seemed to call into question the recommendations of the county department heads that analyzed the data from the wage survey and wants to make sure they are on board with the survey’s results. The sheriff said, “some of the comments made did not seem grounded in facts.”
Myers continued, “We are hopeful that the council members who are in opposition would take the time to talk with the department heads to understand the hours that were spent on the data already. If there are questions about their judgment, they should be addressed prior to the next meeting. I have learned many things as your sheriff and one of the largest lessons is to always be data-based and remove emotion and politics from key decisions. I applaud the council for initiating the salary survey and now ask them to complete whatever work is required to make an informed decision.”
Read the complete statement issued by Sheriff Myers on the County Council controversy, here.
