A budget panel voted Thursday to give Oklahoma County's 1,700 employees an across-the-board 2 percent pay raise retroactive to Jan. 1.
The county's eight elected officers, who together comprise the Budget Board, killed a separate proposal to increase their own $106,000 annual salaries by 2 percent.
It is thought to be the first time in more than 20 years that Oklahoma County employees have received an across-the-board raise.
The raises are intended to make up for the loss in take-home pay that took effect when the 2 percent federal payroll tax cut expired Jan. 1, County Commission Chairman Ray Vaughn said.
The measure passed unanimously on a voice vote.
The raises will be funded from money already in the county budget, said Butch Freeman, the county treasurer. The raises are expected to cost $554,861 for the balance of the fiscal year, which ends on June 30.
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