Birmingham - Jefferson County Commissioner Bobby Humphryes says he will take a 20% pay cut as a way to "do what is right" for the county and its workers.

The county is making deep budget cuts to make up for more than $70 million lost when a judge threw out the occupational tax.  Recently the commissioners approved moving the county's hourly workers to 32-hour work weeks, as one of those measures.

Salaried workers will not get a similar cut, because the county's legal advisers says that would be illegal.  If they would cut those workers' pay, the county would have to retroactively give overtime pay for past years.

Commissioner Humphreys requested the payroll department reduce his salary starting July 1. 

He says he must make the same sacrifices that the employees make, "In order to be able to look the employee's in the eyes."

Humphreys says his pay reduction will stay in effect as long as the reduced hours are in effect.

Another plan to save money involved cutting the number of take-home county cars in use by employees.  Commissioners estimate that could save the county $250,000.

Commissioners, however, would still receive take-home county cars.  ABC 33/40's Yenu Wodajo asked commission president Bettye Fine Collins if she would park hers, as a show of good faith. 

Collins replied, "If I park it, dear, I'm going to take the $400 a month."  She was referring to the law which allows commissioners to either receive a car from the county fleet, or $100 a week for their own vehicle expenses.

 

Here is the entire statement from Commissioner Bobby Humphryes:

June 19, 2009.

For immediate release to the press:

Many measures have been taken to keep Jefferson County in compliance with the State of Alabama's balanced budget laws.

From the beginning of this commission's efforts to find ways to maintain a balanced budget, I have advocated a 20% pay reduction for all Jefferson County employees. My support for this reduction, however, included every employee that received compensation from Jefferson County (including Commissioners). Our legal team tells me that we cannot, legally, reduce the pay of "exempt" (salaried) employees because of FLSA laws (which I do not agree with). 

In order to be able to look the employee's in the eyes, I feel that I must do what is right and make the same sacrifices that the employees of Jefferson County will have to make.   

With all of that being said, I have requested that the payroll department reduce my base salary by twenty percent (20%) beginning July 1, 2009. This salary reduction is to remain in effect as long as our employee's hours remained reduced.

Thank you for your cooperation,

Commissioner Bobby Humphryes

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