By Andrew Wigger

awigger@civitasmedia.com

Newberry County Council recognized three employees with the Sheriff’s Office for a combined service of 50 years: Odell Schumpert, 20 years, Garrett Lominack, 20 years, and John Paul Rister, 10 years.
https://www.newberryobserver.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/web1_DSC_0230.jpgNewberry County Council recognized three employees with the Sheriff’s Office for a combined service of 50 years: Odell Schumpert, 20 years, Garrett Lominack, 20 years, and John Paul Rister, 10 years. Andrew Wigger | The Newberry Observer

NEWBERRY — Newberry County Council has approved a salary increase for identified positions making $40,000 or less, as designated by the individual department heads.

“Since the third reading of the current year’s budget, this funding has come to be called the ‘one percent’ money. That is because an amendment approved at third reading set aside one percent of total payroll for distribution to positions paying $40,000 or less per year, under some terms not defined at the time of the amendment’s passage,” said County Administrator Wayne Adams. “The county’s total payroll, net or fringe benefit costs and payroll taxes, is $7.9 million, meaning that, on a net basis, $79,000 is available for distribution to positions with annual salaries of $40,000 or less.”

The finance committee previously discussed two primary options for distributing the funding. The first option was to grant all employees making $40,000 or less an increase in annual compensation.

The second option would allow department heads to distribute the funding to positions meeting two criteria — a salary paying $40,000 or a salary insufficient to attract candidates with the knowledge, skills and abilities suitable to the position.

“I think all the heads of our departments do a great job of running departments. I am not for an across the board increase. I say we leave it up to the department heads,” Councilman Scott Cain said.

Cain also added that he did not think there needed to be a cap of $40,000, especially if the employee was only making slightly over $40,000. Councilman Travis Reeder and Councilman Bill Waldrop agreed.

“I hope the decision made would be beneficial to employees. I have no problem increasing the cap, but not if someone is making $80,000 or $100,000,” Councilman Kirksey Koon said.

Councilman Leslie Hipp said that this increase should not be to reward employees, but to boost low salary positions.

“We have positions that we cannot get qualified people because we are not competitive,” he said. “At the Finance Committee, we felt that department heads could identify what positions, if they lose the current individual, could they fill position with a person of similar qualifications.”

Councilman Henry Livingston agreed and said this was not to target people, but to target positions, which would help hire and retain qualified people.

Council approved the increase after Cain made a motion and Waldrop seconded. The increase will go into effect on Jan. 1, 2016.

In other business, council heard the results of the financial audit for the 2014-15 fiscal year. David Enzastiga, of Rich and Enzastiga, presented the audit.

“The county received an unqualified opinion, which is the best you can get,” Enzastiga said.

According to the audit, both revenues and expenditures for the year ending June 30, 2015 were positive. These variances resulted in a net $1.3 million increase in combined fund balance. Specifically, unreserved fund balance has risen from $10,633,785 (2014) to $12,591,982 (2015).

The audit also highlighted the county’s ability to borrow.

In South Carolina, counties are limited to borrowing (without referendum) eight percent of the assessed value of all property within their borders. For Newberry County, that borrowing limit is $10,392,048. The county currently has outstanding against that amount just $3,667,415, leaving the ability to borrow another $6,724,633. Newberry County is currently using only 35.3 percent of its legal borrowing capacity.

“When I came to County Council in 2009, we could only borrow less than a million dollars, and we are now doing much better,” Hipp said.

Enzastiga agreed and added that the county is doing very well financially.

Other Business

• Council approved an ordinance transferring a 5.11 acres parcel in the Mid-Carolina Commerce Park, to Newberry Electric Cooperative. NEC will construct a power substation to serve further tenants of the Commerce Park.

• Council approved giving Christmas gift cards to county employees. The gift cards will be for $50, and will cost $10,904 this year.

• Council passed a resolution naming Peak Town Hall Fire Station after Mayor Lewis Shealy. The Peak Development Committee requested this resolution to honor Shealy’s service to the town.

Reach Andrew Wigger at 803-276-0625 ext. 1867 or on Twitter @TheNBOnews.