Butler County may give roughly 150 nonunion workers a 2.5 percent pay hike.

The county salary board discussed the proposal Wednesday.

The increase, which the county termed a cost-of-living increase in prior years, would be a permanent increase for the employees whose salaries do not exceed their designated pay scale.

The four workers whose salaries exceed the pay range established through a study would only receive a one-time 2.5 percent stipend.

County Commissioner Kevin Boozel opposed the stipend.

“I think it sets a very dangerous precedent,” Boozel said.

County Controller Ben Holland also expressed concern about the stipend.

County Commissioner Kim Geyer stressed the stipend won't be repeated.

“This will be a one-time increase,” Geyer said.

The salary board also discussed proposed additional pay hikes for four posts to bring them in line with the salary ranges.

The chief assessor would increase from $67,266 to $71,469, the adult probation office manager would be recategorized as an administrative assistant II with an increase from $22.36 an hour to $22.71 an hour, the tax claim director would rise from $48,967 to $52,531 and the administrative clerk in veterans services would increase from $12.62 to $15.54 an hour.

The board also considered increasing three probation department deputy chiefs by 7 percent.

Two of the posts would increase from $64,784 to $69,319 annually while the third would rise from $64,249 to $68,747 annually.

County Commissioner Leslie Osche, board chairman, explained the increase was needed for the judicial posts due to the subordinate posts receiving higher salaries.

Boozel also expressed concern about making this type of adjustment the norm.

“If we do this, it's another precedent,” he said.

The board, which included most county row officers for this meeting, debated the merits of the salary study by the Archer Company that is the basis for nonunion salary ranges.

“It takes the subjectivity out of it,” Osche said.

County department heads also participated in the discussion.

Joyce Ainsworth, director of county human services, said the study did not set appropriate pay ranges for county nonunion jobs.

“The salary study ranges — it makes no sense at all,” Ainsworth said.

Holland agreed there are problems with the study's data.

“I will not defend the salary study,” he said. “There are certain things that don't make sense.”

However, he sided with the commissioners about using it as a tool to control costs.

“This is our starting point,” Holland said.

Boozel said the pay ranges are the first step in creating equity.

Shari Brewer, director of the county elections bureau, expressed concern that some salary disparities are not being addressed.

“The message to us is we don't matter,” Brewer said.

Ainsworth said people will have an emotional response to salary issues.

“We're not widgets,” she said.

Osche said more adjustments can be made down the road.

“There's a lot of this we can work on in the future,” she said.

Osche stressed employees' concerns are not being ignored.

“I promise you I'm listening to you,” she said.

Geyer agreed the moves currently proposed are part of an ongoing process.

“This is all incremental pieces,” she said.

The salary board is set to vote on all the proposals next week.