By NEAL WAGNER / Managing Editor

COLUMBIANA – All full-time Shelby County employees will receive a 4-percent cost of living adjustment beginning in the new year, after the Shelby County Commission voted unanimously to approve the matter during a Dec. 26 meeting.

The cost of living raise will go into effect in February, and will apply to all full-time county employees who work as full-time employees throughout the month of January, county elected officials and members of the Board of Registrars.

“The Shelby County Commission strives to administer competitive compensation practices and provide a cost of living adjustment to the wages earned by full-time county employees,” read the resolution approved by the commission. “Shelby County employees work diligently to efficiently use county resources and deliver timely services to the residents of our county.

“All eligible employees and applicable elected officials will receive 4 percent of their annual rate of pay as a cost of living adjustment compensation for services completed during the time period,” read the resolution. “The COLA payment will be based on the employee’s rate of pay as of Jan. 31, 2019. The expenses associated with this action will be covered through the application of the funds from the closing of fiscal year 2018 and the associated fund balances – General fund and proprietary funds.”