3. Salary/COLA recommendation - Laserfiche WebLink

CASSCDUNIY GOVERNMENT ..I.. Auditor Michael Montiplaisir, CPA 701-241-5601 Treasurer Charlotte Sandvik 701-241-5611 Director of Equalization Frank Klein 701-241-5616 RECEIVED MAY 2 5 2005 CASS COUNTY COMMISSION Date: May 25,2005 To: Cass County Commission ~ From: Frank Klein and Charlotte Sandvik, Department Head Group (I<. Re: Salary Proposal for 2006 At the Department Head meeting today, the group recommended that, for budgeting purposes, the salary scale be adjusted upward +3.25% for the 2006 budget. The decision was based upon review of the April Consumer Price Index statistics published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The March Employment Cost Index statistics were also reviewed. Exhibit A indicates that the CPI index for All Urban Consumers nationwide unadjusted for the 12 months ended April, 2005 was 3.5% (Exhibit A). The compounded annual rate for the 3 months ended April, 2005 was 6.2%. The Midwest CPI-U was 3.4% with 3.2% for cities more than 1,500,000 population and 3.5% for cities between 50,000 and 1,500,000 population (Exhibit B). Exhibit C indicates that employment compensation costs have increased 3.6%, with 2.3% being attributable to wages and salaries and 6.6% being attributable to benefits. In the discussion, the group placed the most weight on the Midwest CPI index and agreed on the 3.25% request. SUGGESTED MOTION: Move that county department heads use a 3.25% increase to the salary scale as a cost of living adjustment for 2006 budget purposes. Box 2806 211 Ninth Street South Fargo, North Dakota 58103 Fax 701-241-5728 www.casscountygov.com