You would be correct except that the Commissioners and the Administrator acknowledge that there aren't budgetary constraints at this point. What AFSCME workers are asking for is not private-sector level wages - they are asking to be paid similar wages that other public sector employees are paid in other parts of the state. The RG is mis-reporting, no one's asking for a 19% raise (though I'll point out that the County Administrator has gotten an 84% raise since he started 3 years ago).