With signs the economy is picking up, Salt Lake County is considering better pay and benefits for its 3,500-plus employees.

Mayor Peter Corroon is proposing an uptick in salaries and retirement benefits that could restore, on an incremental basis, some of the pay and 401(k) perks that employees lost because of the Great Recession.

In a recommendation Tuesday to the County Council, he called for a 1 percent salary raise in January, followed by increases of 1 percent (in July) and 0.75 percent (in January 2012) if the county's tax receipts come in as expected.

The Democratic mayor, who is running for governor, also suggested adding a 1 percent 401(k) match in January, followed by two additional jumps of 1 percent in July 2011 and January 2012 if the county meets its financial goals.

"It is not about a pay increase," explained Doug Willmore, the mayor's chief administrative officer. "It is about restoring cuts that were made."

The proposed boost in pay and benefits comes a year after the county cut salaries 2.75 percent. A year before that, it suspended its contribution to employees' 401(k) accounts.

The council put off its decision on employee pay until next week. But the council's Democratic majority appears to favor the proposal.

"Doing anything less than this would be overly stingy," Council Chairman Joe Hatch said. "Doing anything more than this would put the taxpayers and the budget at risk."

And employee groups seem satisfied as well. Three organizations representing county employees expressed support for Corroon's proposal.

"If you can make this happen, it will be an incredible boon to Salt lake County," said Jan Johnson, who represents the Utah Alliance of Government Employees, adding that her organization "very, very strongly" backs the plan.

The council is expected to take action next week, when Corroon is poised to unveil his 2011 budget.

jstettler@sltrib.com —

Corroon to unveil budget

P Salt Lake County Mayor Peter Corroon is scheduled to roll out his 2011 budget on Tuesday at the County Government Center, 2001 S. State St.