They didn’t get a pay increase this year, but Oxford Township’s office employees and elected officials will receive a small one next year to help offset the cost of living.
Last week, the township board voted 4-3 to increase the pay for office employees and the three full-time elected officials by 2.5 percent.
‘I would be in favor of seeing the employees get an increase,? said Supervisor Bill Dunn. ‘Over the last two years, we’ve reduced staff and I have to commend all the township employees because they’ve had to do extra work.?
Dunn said it would be a ‘shame? if the employees went two years without a raise.
Factoring in the Consumer Price Index, the supervisor noted not receiving a raise next year would be tantamount to giving the employees a 7 percent pay cut over two years.
It was definitely not an easy decision for some township officials.
‘I’m sorta stuck in the middle on this one here,? said Trustee Buck Cryderman. ‘I think without a cost of living raise you, in effect, are giving a pay cut because everything’s going up and your wage hasn’t. But then again, they are pretty tight times.?
Trustee Mike Spisz voted against the raises, along with Trustee Joe Bunting and Clerk Curtis Wright.
Spisz wanted the full-time elected officials? salaries to remain unchanged and the trustees ? along with those appointed to the planning commission, ZBA and Board of Review ? to take a $5 to $10 pay cut per meeting.
‘We’re not talking huge dollars,? Spisz said.
‘I would certainly favor a resolution that says cut trustees? pay. I don’t have any problem with that,? Cryderman said. ‘I don’t want to cut everybody else’s pay.?
Along with the employees, the supervisor’s salary was increased from $59,265 to $60,746 while the clerk and treasurer saw their annual pay rise from $49,344 to $50,576.
Township trustees will continue to receive $110 for each regular and special meeting they attend and $95 for each committee meeting.
PC and ZBA members will continue to receive $95 a meeting except for the chair who earns $105.
As always, Board of Review members will earn $110 for a full day’s work and $60 for a half-day.