Commissioners unanimously passed a budget for 2022 which provides for raises to county employees across the board.
“The high point of it, over and above everything else, is the employee raises,” said Gilmer County Chair Charlie Paris. “We hope this helps us recruit and retain people.”
Many jobs in county government, especially in the road department, have gone unfilled in the last year. Department heads and commissioner pointed to pay as a key component of people not wanting these jobs.
In the new budget, Paris said the road department will get a $4 an hour across-the-board raise in an attempt to make pay competitive.
“That’s the most significant,” Paris said.
All departments are getting raises, but he said, the road department was the farthest behind.
Employee pay accounts for the largest amount of growth in the budget for 2022 over 2021. Other factors due in inflation, fuel and insurance also represent changes.
“Insurance went way up this year,” Paris said.
Total for the 2022 maintenance and operations budget is $31,799,762. This represents a $5.5 million increase over 2021.
Gilmer’s capital budget will rise to $10,916,338 in 2022 from $9,981,983 in 2021.
“Revenue has been on an upward trend for the last few years,” Paris said.
Gilmer’s 2022 budget is balanced, even as they worked to estimate revenue conservatively, he said.
Tourism accounts for the majority of the growth in revenue for the county. Paris said the number of visitors are up, and a provision in state law which requires companies to collect county taxes on lodging has helped.
As of Dec. 31, 2021, Gilmer County’s fund balance was $13 million, which was up from $8.9 million the same time last year.
Paris said it is much easier to budget when revenue is growing and cuts are not having to be made across the board.
“I am pleased our employees are getting some good raises,” he said. “It’s going to make it better for everybody.”