On Wednesday, they will present Mayor Peter Corroon a wish list that resurrects a 75 percent sick-leave buyout and a so-called market review designed to boost salaries.

One group - the Utah Public Employees Association - also will call for a 2 percent cost-of-living raise, 2.75 percent merit increase, and a weekly "public salute" award worth $1,500 in hotel, meal and retail vouchers (plus a day off) for a winning employee.

It's not really negotiable, says Mark McGillis, county representative for UPEA. "We think it's extremely fair."

The requests come mere months after news that the county was flush with $150 million in cash reserves, a fact not lost on Corroon.

"We're having all these wish lists come in," the mayor says. "Based on the numbers we're seeing right now, people are asking for a lot more money than we'll have available - unless we raise taxes, which we don't want to do."

Corroon says the latest number crunches suggest county officials may be forced to make cuts, not play Santa Claus.

At the same time, he insists employees are the county's No. 1 asset, worthy of an incentive-based system.

"It's something we'll consider seriously."

Besides Sheriff's Office employees, much of the county's 4,000-member work force belongs either to UPEA or the Utah Alliance of Government Employees, or UAGE.

Buyout of sick leave can prevent abuse of the fund and allow the county to save cash by replacing retirees with cheaper employees, according to Kevin Schofield, executive director of UAGE.

"This is something we've been pressing for a lot of years," Schofield says of the 75 percent payout. "It ends up saving them in the long run."

UAGE officials will wait until October to make cost-of-living requests.

In 2004, county employees got a 1 percent bump after union representatives lobbied for more. Corroon says his office wants to "do right" by the employees, but cannot make any promises.

Besides boosting cost of living, McGillis wants the county to contribute more 401k money to employees who have topped-out on the salary scale. He also would like officials to revisit the county's "archaic" grievance procedure.

In all, McGillis says the extra perks will help prevent costly turnover in the ranks.

"This is not going to increase their expenses," he says. "It will save them money."

djensen@sltrib.com

Despite its sullied reputation, Salt Lake County's fleet operation still carries plenty of cachet. More than 80 applicants have responded to a nationwide search for a new fleet manager to replace Nick Morgan, who was ousted in June. "We're thrilled with the response," April Townsend, director of Administrative Services said Monday. She will begin paring down the list, then conduct finalist interviews in September. A manager should be named by the end of next month. The county's fleet was the focus of a gas-stealing scandal last year that remained an issue through the 2004 mayoral election. Earlier this year, fleet procedures underwent a massive overhaul. The number of cars was reduced as was the driving allowance for county employees. - Derek P. Jensen

County workers pen wish list