HomeMy WebLinkAbout*Other - ClerksKIMBERLY A. ALLEN
GRANT COUNTY CLERK
and Clerk of the Superior Court
Cheryl L. Hill -Roberson, ChzefDeputy Clerk
June 21, 2022
E -marled: bocc-consent(&--cirantcouniMa.-ciov
Board of County Commissioners
Grant County Courthouse
P.O. Box 37
Ephrata, WA 98323
Re: 6128/22 Consent Agenda - Finalizing Salary Structure Started in 2415/2016
Dear Commissioners:
Although I understand that two of you were not Commissioners back in 2015 when I sent the
attached letter, I am writing today to ask that the issue of finalizing the salary structure for my
office be completed, and to ask that you place this issue on your consent agenda for Tuesday,
June 28th. Y
As you will see from the copy of my October 22, 2015, letter, I made a request to the BOCC for
salary increases for my staff. That was the year that accounting made a large error in
calculating salaries that were budgeted and, unfortunately, it caused a shortfall in the County
budget. Therefore, the BOCC only agreed to a portion of the increases that I had asked for. In
a nutshell, I had asked for each of my positions to be increased by two bands but due to budget
et g
constraints we agreed to settle on increases of only one band, with the understanding that we
could revisit the issue once the County's budget was back in shape. I have patiently waited six
years and am asking that you now complete the adjustments as I had originally requested.
I have reviewed my request with Kirk and Arianna in HR to confirm that this was, in fact, the
path that was agreed upon by the BOCC back in 2015 (salary changes took affect in 2016).
}
Kirk recalled this scenario and Adriana suggested that I bring this before the BOCC again for
final implementation.
That is the recap of why I am bringing this to you now. I appreciate your consideration and look
forward to answering any questions you may have.
: ka a
Sincerely,
RANT NN CLERK'S OFFICE
Kim A. Allen, Clerk
Grant bounty clerk's Office, P.t. Box 37, Ephrata, WA 98
509-754-2011 4 509-765-2160 ♦ 800-572-0119
www.gLantcountywa.gov/clerk
..;;.�,:�,.�st-r,.•�:w,_ SKr-�,•�. 9 .::A c'm�.�
C E u�
q'A z -a {R' �- Qddpp"�'" F..` F' ; c( "r[ 4y(1�• �4 �"� yFr�y' S `� � �/4 � � t`�h,� � i�'� � � �"" �(! �.° �
•' (: R `'i'N'I 9 P v.1 M �C \� <• L'� L i C t..i t_.� 1 �'y,Y �i C �✓l
`'i�j..'.Ybe'.•.6f/%:.eti'.::-Y:9a+n::'"Jiw%R:SII.i.+_::y�-ieYtelASr-aVLVT.� S�CN2:.'GI:iF.K3�ltts'!
%k
KIMBERLY A. ALLEN
GRANT COUNTY CLERK
and Clerk of the Superior Court
Cheryl L. Hill, Chief Deputy Clerk
Marla Webb, Clerk Supervisor
October 22, 2015 + ..�.� _ �y`v,��,�,%
SUPPLEMENT TO CLERK'S 2016 BUDGET
Board of County Commissioners
Grant County Courthouse
P.O. Box 37
Ephrata, WA 98823
Re: Proposed 2016 Salary Adjustments
Dear Commissioners:
It is with great pride and appreciation for my staff that I submit this letter to accompany
my proposed 2016 Clerk's Office budget. As you will see, for the first time since taking
office, I am requesting an increase in the budget for staff salaries. This letter will
provide you with some background leading up to this request and I look forward to
discussing it further at my budget meeting.
Upon taking office in 2007, 1 reviewed the job descriptions of my existing staff and
quickly realized that both the job descriptions and the pay for thosepositions were
greatly lacking. Since that time, I have continued to update and revise the job
descriptions to more accurately describe the duties and knowledge necessary. I have
also worked with the various HR Directors over the years to review and work towardpay
increases.
Superior Court judges are paid approximately 5% higher than District Court judges.
This wage difference is to recognize the additional responsibilities and complex level of
the cases they preside over. Likewise, Clerk's Office staff have additional
responsibilities, handle more complex cases, and also must know how to handle 11
different types of cases as compared to District Court staff who handle two different
types of cases. Due to the complex nature of our work, it takes approximately three
years to train an employee in the Clerk's Office to the point where they feel
"comfortable" with most of the aspects of the position.
Grant County Clerk's Office, P.O. Box 37, Ephrata, WA 98823
509-754-2011 * 509-765-2160 0 800-572-0119
wwwgrantcountywa.,gov/clerk
Board of County Commissioners
October 22, 2015
Page 2
I believe that I have always followed your instructions in preparing and submitting my
annual proposed budgets. I have made cuts inyears that you have asked me to, I have
stayed at status quo when you have asked me to, and I have stayed under budget to
the best of my abilities through the years. Many years that was very hard to do. It has
also been hard to lose good employees to other local companies who pay higher
wages.
Working in the Clerk's Office can be very exciting and rewarding at times. However, it is
also very emotional, stressful, complex work - - and it's not for everyone. In order to
keep excellent employees, I feel it is time for me to ask for what our employees
deserve. As you will see in my proposed salary worksheet, I am asking that you allow
all of the Clerk's Office staff to be moved up' at least two bands. •In most cases, this
adjusts the salaries to be approximately 5% higher than comparable District Court
positions - - similar to the difference in the judges' salaries, which is based on higher
responsibilities and complexities of their workload.
I have consulted with our current HR Director, Kirk Eslinger, and he has expressed to
me that he understands the difference in the workload between District Court and
Clerk's Office staff, and that he supports my requested salary adjustments. I
respectfully request your careful consideration of my request and I hope that you will
join Kirk and me in supporting these adjustments effective January 2016, and
supporting the hard work and dedication of the Clerk's Office staff.
Sincerely,
GRANT COUNTY CLER OFFICE
Kimb y A. All lerk
:kaa