Jackson Free Press

The lowest earners in Hinds County will soon see an increase in their salaries, and some city of Jackson employees could be next.

With minimal discussion at this morning's meeting of the Hinds County Board of Supervisors, members voted 4-1 to raise the minimum wage to $9.45 per hour for employees who have worked for the county for less than one year. Employees earning minimum wage who have been working for the county a year or more would be bumped up to $9.75 per hour.

Previously, District 5 Supervisor Kenneth Stokes proposed raising the county minimum wage to $10.10 per hour to match an executive order President Barack Obama recently signed to lift the federal minimum wage.

District 4 Supervisor Tony Greer, the board's sole Republican member, was the lone no vote on the pay raises, which will become effective on Nov. 1.

Also, at their regular meeting on Oct. 21, the Jackson City Council will consider making the current interim City Clerk Kristi Moore permanent at a salary of $77,716.34 and reclassify a number of employees in the city clerk's office. Moore has been filling the position since the departure of Brenda Pree earlier this year.

During the most recent round of budget negotiations, the clerk's office received an additional $27,000 to make current part-time employees full-time with benefits and to provide small raises for existing clerk staffers.

Also this morning, Hinds County Election Commissioner Connie Cochran said the county is prepared to hold a Dec. 2 special election for the Jackson Ward 1 council seat that Quentin Whitwell recently vacated. The city council meets later this afternoon to formally set the date for the election in which at least five people have announced their intention to compete.