Today, representatives from the county's four primary unions will take that sales pitch to the County Council, charged with finalizing the 2006 budget by month's end. The unions want up to a full percentage point more.
But given Mayor Peter Corroon's promised cuts and theme of "shared sacrifice," any extra compensation faces a tough fight.
A second budget battle - sheriff's groups want more cash for deputies - also is brewing, though any salary solution likely won't be settled until next week. On that front, Sheriff Aaron Kennard argues entry level pay for his force lags more than 10 percent behind the market.
Presenting his first full-year budget last week, Corroon proposed to bump employee pay 2 percent along with a 2.75 percent merit increase.
It is designed to cover the blow of a 15 percent health-care hike, which will result in pricier prescription drugs and heftier co-pays for employees.
But other rising costs, compounded by the gouge at the gas pumps, warrants more money, according to Jan Johnson, member-services manager for the Utah Alliance of Government Employees. Her group is calling for a 3 percent cost-of-living boost, insisting the employees are the county's greatest resource.
"We're concerned they're not" being treated as such, she says.
Another union, the Utah Public Employees Association, will request a 2.37 percent hike, based on the Western Urban Consumer Price Index.
They also want a 75 percent sick-leave buyout, not 25 percent, upon retirement, and significant employee discounts at county recreation facilities, golf courses and arts venues.
Council members say they are holding the compensation debate first - workshops will continue through Thanksgiving - so they don't balance the budget on the backs of the employees.
Meantime, some on the council have told Corroon the county should be giving its deputies more money.
"We sort of do suck," County Councilman Randy Horiuchi said about the pay during last week's budget presentation.
You can bet Kennard was listening.
djensen@sltrib.com
