Are we out of our ever loving minds?
$190,000 is what the county spent.. to determine that we need to offer more in wages to our employees. Not a little more, but amounts that outstrip obvious necessary amounts to keep a qualified workforce, and also amounts that reflect a total disregard for the current economic crisis the county and other local governments face.
The callous disregard for the taxpayer is evident when commissioners, instead of paying $190,000 for an outside firm to evaluate particular positions in county government, could look at the long lines of folks WAITING for county jobs and make a pretty quick assessment on whether compensation is adequate. Does it not make sense that a demand for those positions means they are desirable already, and at the given wage rate?
Apparently the “experts” did not think so:
The board ordered a study in 2007 to be crafted by The Segal Company. It was meant to outline new job classifications for more than 500 county employees, and to compare their wages and benefits to similar organizations.
But Segal used an incorrect methodology for wage comparisons, a committee of local human resources experts from public and private institutions found.
The Segal study called for raises from $5,000 up to $40,000 per-year for some department heads and managers, while hourly employees would see increases around $1,000 or less.
The reality that Michigan is enjoying a stated 14% unemployment rate, that may well translate into over 20% when factoring in those who have given up, should provide a realistic look at all levels of positions that the county has to offer. This study that was A. Irresponsibly chartered with taxpayer money and B. makes claims that wages are too low, can be nothing but flawed in this type of environment.
The county threw good money away, to reach an unacceptable solution, to a non existent problem.
More on this as it develops.
Jason Gillman is an advocate of responsible government at all levels. A long time resident (28 years) of Traverse City, and the region, Jason has raised two children with his wife Candy, and currently operates a Security Camera sales interest, that employs Five other county residents.
" I am a seeker of solutions, and feel the best answers are found when all the facts are known."
Support Jason for County Commission on Aug 03, 2010, and again in the general election Nov 2, 2010 
