Kouts Council gives employees 2-1/2 percent raise

KOUTS | With its budget officially endorsed by the state, the Town Council approved a new salary ordinance granting employees a 2-1/2 percent raise Monday.

Kouts Clerk-Treasurer Laurie Tribble said the budget was approved earlier this month by the state Department of Local Government Finance -- clearing the way for the new wage ordinance.

The town marshal's pay increases to $47,139, and the chief deputy will receive $44,410. A deputy's pay ranges from $26,791 to $38,821, and a crossing guard will make $3,275. Deputies will be paid at their regular hourly rate for overtime or receive compensatory time equivalent to their hourly rate.

The clerk-treasurer's pay is $34,893, while the councilmembers will receive $3,500 with the council president paid $4,668. The town also will match contributions by eligible employees and elected officials to a retirement account up to a maximum of $1,000.

Town employees will continue to pay $1 a year toward their health insurance premiums. Other pay approved includes $885 a year for the park board director and $14,650 for the building inspector. Pay for members of the plan commission, stormwater board and the board of zoning appeals will remain at previous levels.

All increases are retroactive to Jan. 1.

The Town Council also approved appointments to several boards. Justen Illyes, Scott Klockow and Dave Brooks were named to the BZA, Tribble was appointed as the staff representative to the plan commission and Paul Prieto was named as the Democratic appointee to the park board.