Cumberland Co. Employees Receive Raises In New Budget

Cumberland County commissioners approved the county’s new 2019-2020 budget plan Monday evening.

County Mayor Allen Foster said full and part-time employees will receive two-percent raises as part of the new budget.

“We’re also going to do an updated wage and benefits study,” Foster said. “We did that a couple years ago to make sure that our employees were competitive with other local governments in the Upper Cumberland and similar sizes across the state to make sure we’re still treating them right.”

The salary increases and study will come at no additional cost to taxpayers. The new budget keeps Cumberland County’s property tax rate the same as last year at just over $1.56.

Commissioners also approved funding for three new deputies at the Sheriff’s Office, plus additional EMT, animal shelter, and county clerk personnel.

Foster said the new positions signify the recent growth and increasing needs of Cumberland County.

“We’re definitely growing. We’re one of the counties that continues to grow and we’re very proud of that here in Cumberland County,” Foster said. “But, [the budget] is also meeting the needs from that growth. We have the same amount of roads and square mileage in Cumberland County as we’ve always had but there’s more people coming in, so that requires keeping up with it.”

The budget includes $60,000 in overtime pay for Sheriff’s deputies and jail staff. A motion to increase the total amount to $160,000 failed by a vote of 6-8-2 before commissioners approved the original proposal.

The Cumberland County Commission next meets Aug. 19 for its regularly-scheduled meeting.