Butler County is set to implement a 2013 salary study setting salary ranges for nonunion jobs.

The county salary board Wednesday discussed adopting an updated version of the study conducted by the Dublin, Ohio, division of the Archer Co.

The county commissioned the $16,500 study a few years ago to address disparities in nonunion salaries, but only one recommended range — administrative assistants — has been acted upon since then.

County Commissioner Leslie Osche, board chairman, said in an interview the study was paid for, so it should be used.

“Let’s put it to work without starting from scratch,” Osche said.

She said during the meeting that adopting the study’s salary ranges, which include employee longevity, would create parity.

“Without adopting this we have no anchor point,” Osche said. “This, at least, gives that structure.”

If adopted Wednesday, the salaries of two posts — assessment and tax claim directors — could be impacted because they fall under the recommended ranges.

The study places the tax claim director under grade 11 with a salary range of $54,386 to $76,140 and assessment director under grade 17 with a range of $73,992 to $103,589.

Janet Mentel, tax director, is currently paid $48,968 while Chris Savage, the assessment director, earns $67,266.

Osche said the post of chief clerk also falls under the salary range of $94,905 to $132,867, but its duties would change upon the addition of a chief of economic development post next year.

The proposed 2017 county budget of $160.5 million includes a $722,518 contingency, $250,000 of which is allotted for nonunion salary adjustments as well as an overall pay hike for all nonunion employees.

“We have a pot of money to work with,” Osche said.

The salary board agreed the study needs further revisions, including changes to posts since its completion, in coming months.

Osche said once the study’s update is done, which is expected by March, any increases to other salaries would be retroactive to the beginning of the year.

She said the same timeline applies to the overall salary increase for all nonunion staff, which the county has traditionally termed a cost-of-living increase.

According to Osche, the COLA cannot be given until the county verifies exactly how much money is needed for updated study recommendations.

The study based its findings on salaries for nonunion posts in eight other counties with similar populations and services — Beaver, Cambria, Centre, Cumberland, Fayette, Franklin, Monroe and Washington.

The study showed most nonunion jobs’ salaries fell within recommended salary ranges.

The commissioners are set to vote on the proposed budget, which does not include a property tax hike, at their meeting Thursday.