In a mid-day session on Friday (8/12/2011), the Rutherford County Commission approved a 1.75 per cent annual pay increase for two groups of county employees. The raise was for longterm workers who are no longer eligible for step pay increases, and whose income peaked in the 2007-2008 fiscal year.

The Commission gave a "thumbs up" 13 to 8 in two separate votes. One ballot included 40 persons paid through the county's general budget, and the second was for 10 Emergency Medical Services workers. The total increase for both groups represents $44,610.  

Commissioner's Vote

Those who voted to give the raise were: Rutherford County Commissioners Rhonda Allen, Charlie Baum, Jack Black, Joyce Ealy, Gary Farley, Trey Gooch, Joe Frank Jernigan,  Jeff Jordan, Will Jordan,  Allen McAdoo,  Jeff Phillips,  Doug Shafer, and Chantho Sourinho.

Those who vote against approving the wage increases were: Rutherford County Commissioners Adam Coggin, Carol Cook,  Robert Peay Jr., Tiffany Phillips, Steve Sandlin,  Robert Stevens,  Brad Turner, and Matthew Young.