THATCHER — The issue of employee pay will come before the Eastern Arizona College board Thursday.
At its next meeting, the board will hear a proposal from the Faculty and Staff associations, seeking a 4 percent cost of living adjustment for all faculty, staff and administration.
In a letter outlining the proposal, the associations point to an inflation rate of 7 percent in 2020 and 7.5 percent in 2021. In addition, the Consumer Price Index has increased an average of 8.4 percent over the preceding 24 months.
“4 percent is less than half of even the CPI increase, but as employees we support the board’s efforts to maintain fiscal responsibility. In light of this inflation paired with our desire for fiscal responsibility, we unitedly make the recommendation for a cost of living adjustment of 4 percent,” the letter reads.
The board will also get its first look at finances for the coming year, with an initial proposed budget of $42.2 million, an increase of 3.89 percent over the current year’s budget.
Staff is currently proposing a decrease in the property tax levy rate, from 3.0954 per $100 valuation to 2.7131. However, due to increases in property values, the college would collect almost $227,000 more over the current year.
The board will review the proposals during Thursday’s meeting at noon in the Student Services Building on the Thatcher campus.
