(ROCKWALL COUNTY, TX – July 20, 2016) At a special meeting July 19th, the Rockwall County Commissioners Court addressed a list of programs and services that must be decided before County Judge David Sweet can complete the first draft of the 2016-2017 budget.
Discussions about indigent/mental health care, a new employee compensation plan and custodial service for county facilities took up most of the five-hour meeting. The court will vote on the items at their regular meeting July 26th.
The court delayed discussing funding for STAR Transit – a regional public transportation system that includes Rockwall County – and ambulance service until the July 26th meeting.
Rockwall County faces an increase of almost $90,000 – from $26,000 to $115,125 – for indigent/mental health services due to a decrease in state funding for the North Texas Behavioral Health Authority (NTBHA).
NTBHA was created by the Commissioners Courts of several North Texas counties to oversee a managed behavioral health care service delivery system that serves those eligible for Medicaid and/or public behavioral health funds. The decrease in state funding requires an increase in matching funds from the counties they serve (Dallas, Collin, Navarro, Ellis, Kaufman and Rockwall), according to a NTBHA representative that addressed the court. Commissioner Lee Gilbert asked how the new matching funds were decided and was told that it was based on county population, not usage. Responding to a question from the court about Collin County, the representative said officials there had opted to fund their own service.
“This is a tremendous increase in matching funds,” Judge Sweet said, adding that the court would make a decision about the change at the July 26th meeting.
The court also heard a proposal for a new employee compensation plan from county Health and Resource Director Kami Webb. It was developed by the Benefits/Compensation Committee whose members included Commissioners David Magness and Dennis Bailey and Sheriff Harold Evanson.
A study by Public Sector Personnel Consultants showed that most Rockwall County salaries are competitive with area government agencies, Ms. Webb said. She also told court members that the current trend in pay plans is to move from automated yearly salary increases to an award system known as the Performance Pay Plan.
The proposal she presented to the court would take effect in January of 2018. “There would be no impact to the current system in 2017,” she said. “It would be a year of training,” adding that before it can take effect, department heads and elected officials would need to establish performance expectations and a salary range proposal.
Webb pointed out that under the new goal specific plan, all employees would be eligible for merit raises on Oct. 1 beginning in 2018 – not on their hiring anniversary date.
“I 100% believe this is the best system for our county,” Judge Sweet said, pointing out it was imperative that department heads and elected officials have a full understanding of the new plan, calling it “an exciting opportunity.”
Commissioner Magness said it was “a big departure from what we’ve done in the past. It’s not perfect in any way…it’s only as good as the reviewer.”
Regarding janitorial services for county facilities, the court agreed to consider the cost of having an in-house system versus the current outside contract provider.
Submitted press release.
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