Miller miffs council over raises
The council chastised Miller during her first crack at the budget since starting the job as district attorney six months ago. Council members were miffed at Miller for a major political no-no: Miller gave her staff a 5 percent raise across the board without asking members of the council if they approved.
"It certainly puts a bad taste in our mouths," said Councilman Joe Hatch. "That was not a good way to start."
Miller apologized to the council several times. But technically, she said, she didn't have to ask — she found the money in her budget to fund the raise by not filling an administrative-level position.
"Legally, I did the right thing," she said. "But it would have been better to talk to them all individually."
Come November, when the budget is finalized, council members worry that Miller will try to have it both ways by filling the opening and handing out raises.
For Hatch, it's an issue of fairness. Now that Miller used extra money in her budget for raises without the council's blessing, every other employee should be able to demand the same, he said.
Despite the council members' concerns, they went on to approve most of Miller's budget requests.
"I think we've flogged you enough," Councilman Michael Jensen said.
Miller said she wasn't surprised by the council's complaints.
"I knew it was coming," Miller said. "They gave me fair warning."
The council appropriated $112,000 to double Miller's domestic-violence staff. Last year, 70 percent of the people charged with felonies involving domestic violence in Salt Lake County walked away free without punishment.
The five new positions approved by the council Tuesday are a significant first step to reduce that statistic, Miller said.
The council also approved a $75,000 study to evaluate the district attorney's long-term building needs. The district attorney rents office space downtown for $55,000 a month, but the lease is up soon. Since office space is in such demand in Salt Lake right now, Miller believes costs to lease the office could jump 42 percent to about $78,000 per month.
To avoid the big jump in rental costs, Miller wants to build a permanent home in a central location in the valley.
The council also allocated $118,000 to fund four new positions to work in West Jordan.
County Council raises minimum pay grade
Salt Lake County officials on Tuesday raised the minimum pay grade for employees to a living wage.
Now, 68 county employees who made as low as $7.51 an hour will make $8.69. Councilwoman Jenny Wilson, who proposed the wage increase, said if the county expects businesses to offer a living wage, the county must do the same.
The wage increase, with associated benefit costs, will cost the county $70,000 through the end of the year.
Wilson's plan eliminated the bottom three pay grades in Salt Lake County.
E-mail: ldethman@desnews.com
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