SAN ANGELO, TX -- Tom Green County Clerk Liz McGill withdrew her salary grievance Wednesday morning but the deadline to rescind the request was Monday.
According to County Judge Steve Floyd, county elected officials had until 5 p.m. Monday to file or rescind a grievance. The salary grievance hearing will be conducted in the commissioner's courtroom on the second floor of the Keyes building downtown at 2 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 13. Pct. 4 County Commissioner Bill Ford has filed a salary grievance.
In an email withdrawing her salary grievance Wednesday morning, McGill said, "It was my intent to divide it among my staff as a Christmas bonus if I was fortunate enough to get it, since their 5% COLA (Cost Of Living Adjustment) was not allowed."
According to the email, McGill said, "My staff is upset and rightly so because about half of my staff has been here less than six months, so all they will get will be the 2.7 percent of there already very low salary and not eligible for the merit pay or the longevity pay."
McGill says most of her employees have second jobs to make ends meet. As we reported earlier, the Tom Green County Clerk’s salary is $72,420 with a $1,485 car allowance for total annual compensation of $73,905.
A three percent raise for the County Clerk would make the salary $74,592.60 plus the car allowance for total compensation of $76,077.60.
McGill continued, "I have been in County Government for 38 years and it has always been the lower paid employees who do the majority of the work and make our offices function and run smooth. I am able to pay my bills with my salary and that of my husbands, but my employees are struggling and I dare say that none of us could meet our obligations on their salaries."
Back in July, Commissioner Ford argued for a ten percent raise for commissioners saying they are paid $10,000 to $15,000 less annually than their counterparts is similar sized counties with similar sized budgets. The court voted four to one for a three percent raise for all elected officials. Ford voted against the measure.
According to the Texas Association of Counties, Tom Green County Commissioners are paid $49,476 with a car allowance of $11,259 for total compensation of $60,735.
According to the Texas Association of Counties, Chapter 152 of the Local Government Code creates a salary grievance process for elected county officials to challenge their salaries, expenses, and allowances as set out in the proposed budget.
An elected county or precinct officer who disagrees with the salary or personal expenses provided in the proposed budget may request a hearing before the salary grievance committee before the budget’s final approval.
The nine-member salary grievance committee generally consists of the county judge, sheriff, tax assessor-collector, treasurer, county clerk, district clerk, county attorney or criminal district attorney, and the number of members of the public necessary to provide nine voting members. The county judge is chair of the committee but is not entitled to vote.
As an alternative, the commissioners court may vote to have the committee consist of nine public members, which is also chaired by the county judge.
The decision by the salary grievance committee is final and cannot be appealed.
It is unclear what will happen after McGill missed the deadline to rescind her salary grievance.
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Comments
Omg that’s how much they make That’s a lot if you can’t make it on that you got too many bills. Or you blow your money cut there pay in half ? Second job? I think there living beyond there means. Ford needs to be voted out before he screws anymore up than he already has
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PermalinkTom Green County Clerk’s salary is $72,420 with a $1,485 car allowance for total annual compensation of $73,905.
Is this position an elected position. If so, where do I put my name in the next election? $73,905. WOW. A Monday to Friday job from 8 to 5 pm without call and weekends off, is this right? Does the job require a degree? Lots of good jobs that pay good in the City.
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PermalinkElizabeth McGill, I applaud you for your withdrawal of the salary grievance! I was very disappointed in you when I first read the story yesterday, it even crossed my mind to email you and say I was disappointed in you, but you have redeemed yourself. If you do not recognize my name, I worked in the Building Maintenance department from 2000 to 2008 and entertained at one of the employee appreciation Bbq luncheons by playing the Star Spangled banner on the Guitar and played and sung a couple of tunes. Anyway, I'm once again proud to know you and you are correct in your statement that it's the working staff along with the supervisors that keep the "wheels turning" ... so to
speak. Commissioner Ford needs to "come down off his high horse" before the next election!
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PermalinkThinking of one's self only when you are an elected supervisor in charge of other employee's underneath you proves your ignorance and incompetence to do yours or any job where the public (and taxpayer) is concerned. Yeah Liz, it may be too late due to legal time frames, but it is more so too late to rescind your request because you have already poisoned your voters because of your ignorance. As for Bill ? This did not come as a shock. He's always had that just a little above other people attitude anyhow. If both of you would like to try and make some small amends to the hordes of Tom Green County citizens that you have offended, I would suggest an open and public apology for your greediness followed by an immediate resignation of your position........
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PermalinkHer philanthropic intentions for any raise she might receive was not mentioned until the public backlash was slapping her face. Had she mentioned her underpaid staff in her grievance, she may have been given some leeway by the voters.
This has all the appearance of political back-peddling. I'm guessing that new Escalade will have to wait.
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PermalinkWhen the City and Country have open positions, they should start by stating the Dollar amount and then the job description. More people would apply then the City and County would get the best. Making close to $74,000 is great for this town. Why do many officials who get elected always seem to want more. And to justify they look at other cities nearby and start crying. Do any of the jobs required a college degree?
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PermalinkMcGill continued, "I have been in County Government for 38 years and it has always been the lower paid employees who do the majority of the work and make our offices function and run smooth.
It has always been the lower paid employees who do the majority of work. One has to start at the bottom and move up. Hard work and college education will play a big part. Employees need to be encourage to go back to school if possible. One can get a promotion by working hard.
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