What is the Jefferson County Commission smoking? Raise property levy rates AND county salaries? (Martinsburg: assessor)

[Threerun]

Levy rate may go up - journal-news.net | News, sports, jobs, community information for Martinsburg - The Journal

CHARLES TOWN - As Jefferson County Commission members started working on their budget for the upcoming fiscal year Wednesday, they found themselves faced with tumbling property tax values coupled with requests for increased funding and pay raises in some departments.
Property tax assessments for nearly one in three local homes are set to decrease during the upcoming fiscal year, Jefferson County Assessor Angie Banks told the group that morning. Because a sizable portion of the county's revenues coming from property taxes, officials said a change in the county's levy rate could be in store.
For many years, as property values continued to undergo a steady increase, the county's levy rate was repeatedly rolled back. At present, it stands at 17.44 cents per $100 of assessed value for Class II property, which is comprised of owner-occupied homes.
However, for next year, commissioners are being asked to consider a levy rate of 18.54 cents per $100.
Mark Schiavone, a county employee who is drafting this year's budget, said that will leave the county with just over 101 percent of its existing revenues.
The levy rate is not the only option on the table for commissioners. Schiavone said that if the rate were increased to 20.18 cents per $100, it could generate more than $800,000 in additional funds.

Panel mulls pay raises - journal-news.net | News, sports, jobs, community information for Martinsburg - The Journal

CHARLES TOWN - Jefferson County Commission members are trying to figure out whether a series of salary increases should be implemented as part of their budget for the upcoming fiscal year.
The raises have been discussed for more than a year in an attempt to bring equity to the county's pay scale. Officials said pay rates within the county's work force vary widely for similar positions in different departments.
Thursday, commissioners said they were interested in putting a series of job descriptions in place, which could be used in all departments and by a number of the county's other elected officials. They also expressed interest in implementing, at least in part, a pay equity study that was conducted last year.
Implementing the study in full would cost the county an estimated $432,100 per year, Commissioner Lyn Widmyer said. Partial implementation, which would only give salary increases to workers who currently earn less than the study's suggested minimum salaries, would cost nearly $100,000, Widmyer added.

What the h*ll? Overall property values dropped in the toilet, so let's raise the levy rate and consider increasing the county budget?!?!

[Janipoo]

Let's see.....while many people are losing their jobs or if they are lucky enough to keep them they have to take a pay cut. It's always the little people (the ones that get the job done) that has to take the hit.

That's the government at its best .

[Retired Navy]

I just can't wait to see what Congress gives themselves this year to reward their sterling performance!!

[Hinton Bound]

Shameful isn't it? I wonder if anyone has realized the "change" they voted for will be all they have left in their pockets. They are taking all they can, while they can. It's in vogue these days.

Para bellum amicus

[Two-Rivers]

They are running steps 2 and 3 of the playbook together, when they should be consecutive.

1.re-election
2.rate hikes
3.pay/budget hikes

[DanBev]

Originally Posted by Retired Navy

I just can't wait to see what Congress gives themselves this year to reward their sterling performance!!

There pay raise,$4700,$174,000.they represent themselves!!!

[GottaHerdOn]

WV has one of the highest salaries for senators and the house compared to other states. Ever notice how every year it seems they're giving hefty raises to themselves?