Salary Cuts Rescinded
By: Nadia Bashir
Updated: September 22, 2009
About 350 Kosciusko County workers will not suffer a seven-percent pay cut after the County Councils unanimous vote to tap a rainy day fund. Budget problems had forced the Council to implement a pay cut for all Kosciusko County workers.
The Council worked with County departments to make cuts and tapped a total of three funds to come up with approximately $3.5 million to rescind the cuts. About $500K came from the rainy day fund. Two other funds provided about $1.5 million each.
One County employee, who did not want to be identified, told Fox Fort Wayne when she originally heard her salary might be cut by seven-percent she immediately filed for a part-time job. The cut would have cost her $260/month which she says would have rendered her unable to pay her bills.
Sheriff William Goshert says while he is very happy about the salary reinstatement he is worried future budget problems may bring about salary cuts again. About 100 of the 350 workers effected work for the Sheriff. The Sheriffs department has been among many departments who made cuts to help come up with the money to rescind the budget cuts. Uniforms were among the things Sheriff Goshert says his department cut.
County workers have also suffered an increase in health insurance premiums. A family premium went up by about $1500 dollars a year.
