By Brian Wright
TriValley Central
Maybe it was the spirit of Christmas running through David Snider, but whatever the reason, Pinal County employees will have more money in their pockets next year.
The Pinal Board of Supervisors voted 2-1 on Dec. 19 to give all full-time county employees a one-time salary bonus of 2.5 percent of their annual pay next year. Part-time employees will receive a one-time bonus check of $100.
The bonus is not applicable to elected officials, whose salaries are set by state law.
Snider, the board’s chairman, who was participating in his final meeting as supervisor, proved to be the deciding vote.
Supervisor Clark Smithson, who voted against the bonus, said he was even more concerned about passing it now than he was the first time the item came before the board in July.
Smithson cited the federal fiscal cliff as one reason he was uncomfortable with approving a bonus. He also said the new state Legislature is facing “serious financial issues.”
The salary bonus was championed by Supervisor Pete Rios, who first brought it to the board in July.
Rios also tried to pass a 1 percent pay increase for county employees earlier in the year, but it was defeated 2-1 by the board.
