BUTLER — While county controller Ben Holland voted along with the commissioners to approve a 2.5 percent pay increase next year for the county's nonunion employees, he was very cautious about it.

Holland said wages and benefits constitute a huge portion of county expenditures and that the employees need to begin contributing more toward health care deductibles.

Holland also said the county should compare wages with those of the surrounding counties.

“I'm aware of counties that haven't seen raises in years,” he said.

But he also said he trusts the commissioners commitment to fiscal responsibility.

“(I'm voting yes) on good faith that we are going to have a budget that ... doesn't go after the taxpayer for more money,” Holland said.

Commissioner Kim Geyer said his faith was well-placed.

“We are going to continue to cut spending and take other measures,” Geyer said. “We have no intention of raising taxes.”

Commissioners Chairwoman Leslie Osche said wages and benefits tend to constitute a large portion of many budgets.

She said the low turnover among county employees is a plus.

“It's going to get more challenging to get (employees) as the number of people available for work decreases as people age,” Osche said.

She said the county should continue to keep a steady eye on the long-term fiscal picture.

“We don't want to end up like the state government,” Osche said.

The roughly 150 nonunion workers received a 2.5 percent pay increase in March. The new raise will take effect in 2018.