Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/157038
Sarasota News Leader August 23, 2013 Page 20 nomic downturn; that fund is separate from the reserve the county maintains for operations in the event of a disaster. The 2014 fiscal year budget calls for $26.7 million from the reserves to cope with the economy and another $26 million in FY 2015, with the county running out of that reserve pool in FY 2016. Rick Scott and the Legislature in 2011 to require all government workers to begin paying that amount into the Florida Retirement System to offset the state's investment, Patterson noted. "I honestly don't see how we do not give [merit pay raises]," Commissioner Nora Patterson said. "I think it'd be really unfair to support raises" for the constitutional officers' employees and union members without offering them for other county workers, she pointed out. THE CASE FOR RAISES The Florida Supreme Court upheld the legality of that action in a 4-3 ruling early this year. During the morning session of the Aug. 20 budget workshop, Joanie Whitley, director of human resources for Sarasota County, presented material to the commissioners in support of greater employee compensation. County employees also have lost 3 percent of "Recruiting for the best talent has become their salary per year because of action by Gov. challenging," she said. A chart shows the amount of money budgeted for merit pay raises for all non-union county employees in the 2014 fiscal year. Image courtesy Sarasota County