By STEVEN T. DENNIS
Staff Writer
The Washington County Commissioners voted Tuesday to give county employees a 3 percent pay raise effective July 1.
County Personnel Director Alan Davis had recommended a 4 percent pay increase. "We need to stay competitive," he said.
Commissioner Ronald L. Bowers voted against the pay raise. Bowers said as few as five employees may have left in the last year because of salaries.
Davis had told the County Commissioners that the county employee turnover rate had risen to about 7 percent, not including retirements. Davis said the turnover rate will rise when the unemployment rate drops, as it has in the past few years.