Additional projected revenue expected to alleviate public safety officers salary concerns in New Kent

At the March work session of New Kent’s Board of Supervisors, County Administrator Rodney Hathaway advised county leaders that there may be more additional funding to support requests from public safety officers for salary increases. At Monday night’s regular board meeting, that number came in at the tune of $850,000.

Coupled with additional savings from public safety positions and the conversation board, the total new additional revenue came in at $1,413,901 for the county in the FY2021-22 projected budget.

Hathaway recapped the requests made by both New Kent Sheriff’s Office and New Kent’s Fire and Rescue services, speaking about various positions that needed fielding. With the new additional revenue, the county administrator proposed salary increases of $5,500 for fire and EMS officers, public safety officers, and sheriff’s department positions. Hathaway also requested additional funding for the school by $100,000, bringing it to $250,000. School officials had requested an additional $450,000 from county leaders in the upcoming cycle budget.

Finally, Hathaway proposed a $100,000 salary study to address items on how to decompress salary scales and make positions the county has competitive with neighboring jurisdictions. A four-percent cost of living increase to assist county workers will amount to $36,571 of the new revenue being used.

With those items recommended, Hathaway moved onto the school system’s request to begin hiring for positions in anticipation of Quinton Elementary School opening in 2022. The only additional request made by school leaders to the board of supervisors was the additional hiring of a special education teacher.

With the proposals by Hathaway made, county supervisors will mull over the recommendations and hear from the public at its May 10 regular board meeting on the budget.