Council reneges on court reporter raises

Court reporters in Owen County left the December County Council meeting thinking that they would receive a raise after the additional appropriation was approved at the start of the year. They currently make about $10,000 less than court reporters in surrounding counties.

After all, the council voted 4-2 to approve the proposal, which included cuts to the circuit court budget made by the two judges, Lori Thatcher Quillen and Kelsey Blake Hanlon. The proposal required $13,000 in additional money from the general fund. Councilmen Anton Neff and Andy Wood both voted against the proposal. Councilman Verl Keith was not present at the December meeting.

With the plan approved, Hanlon and Quillen hired a part-time individual instead of a full-time one, which was one of their cost reduction items.

But at the last moment, during the public hearing for the additional appropriation, the council shot down the proposal. Council members Chuck Hess, Nick Robertson and Amy Casebeer all voted in favor of the appropriation both times. Neff and Wood voted against the proposal again. Keith voted against it at the January meeting. Councilwoman Polly Chesser was the deciding vote each time, but between the December and January meetings, she changed her vote from in favor of the proposal to against the additional appropriation.

One source of hesitancy was that the commissioners had received a letter canceling their insurance for workers' compensation. They budgeted a $30,000 increase for that insurance, but with being canceled, Commissioner Gary Burton said that finding a new one could cost an additional $100,000.

“In light of that, I am very concerned about our proposed pay raise for the circuit court,” Chesser said. “I’m afraid this is going to set a precedent.”

“I’m not sure why the $13,000 additional appropriation is the one that is most concerning, if we’re talking about saving money, and I’m not trying to be a smart aleck,” Hanlon said. “We anticipate combining in under budget this year, $30,000 under budget.”

Hanlon reiterated that their employees are making $10,000 less than surrounding counties.

“We have created a solution to have a leaner meaner office at a very low cost to the general fund, and other offices would be welcome to do that too, and we would support them in doing that. We have a wage study that has called for this,” Hanlon said.

“I’m sorry but am I having deja vu,” Hess said before asking, “Did we not go through this last month? So why are we going through this again?”

“I think it is because it is setting a precedent for the other… ,” Chesser said. "When Kathleen [Lamb, 9-1-1 Director] came for the 9-1-1 she had her own fund, and this is coming out of the general fund which we’re already facing some extra…”

“But they’ve already worked within their offices to create the ability to do what they requested to do and we agreed with that,” Hess said, interrupting Chesser. “To have them reiterate and go through it again seems like hammering your head against the wall.”

Quillen said that the $30,000 that the department came in under budget for 2021 pays for the additional $13,000 for a few years.

Burton said that the other two additional appropriations are not coming out of the general fund, and that is why they are different.

Hanlon pointed out that if these departments have other tax levies that expenses that come out of the general fund could instead come from the other funding sources.

“The horse is out of the barn,” Robertson said. “I made a vote to do that.”

“And I feel the same way,” Casebeer said.

“It’s our staff that bears the burden,” Hanlon said.

“We took you at your word,” Quillen added.

The discussion ensued for approximately 40 minutes.

“Until I know that we’re going to be able to pay for it, I just can’t vote for it,” Keith said.

“I cannot believe this council,” Hess said.

The council also voted to restore the courts to their previous budget.

“We don’t have a handle on what the yearly picture will look like,” Chesser said.

Chesser was also elected president of the council with Keith serving as Vice President. Wood announced at the start of the meeting that he would not like to serve as president or Vice President for the coming year.

The council will meet again at 7 p.m. on Feb. 14, in the council and commissioners room of the Owen County Courthouse.

This article originally appeared on Evening World: Council reneges on court reporter raises