Did Tim and Ross approve an increase in salary in 2011 for Tim and Lynda? Tim and Ross say they didn't but I know two other people who follow county business closely left the May 25 BOCC meeting believing that Tim and Ross had approved the salary increase for Tim and Lynda.
I know what you're probably thinking - she's stuck on the commissioners' salary increase just like she got stuck on Harmony Hill not being funded by the Lodging Tax Advisory Committee. You could be right. By the way, the LTAC still hasn't met to reconsider Harmony Hill in spite of 102 citizens asking the BOCC to give Harmony Hill a grant from the Hotel Motel Tax Fund
as the BOCC has done for other equally worthy events . But the commissioners have weighed the opinion of 102 citizens against the LTAC's five members and have decided to go with whatever the LTAC recommends. (Another reason why Ross is in trouble. Five votes or 102 votes??? hmmmm)
Back to the pay raise, I got a copy of the recently signed resolution which I'm including below so that all of us are on the same sheet of music. My objective is to help folks understand not to confuse everyone.
RESOLUTION NO. 42-10
A RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING THE 2011 MASON COUNTY COMMISSIONERS' SALARIES
WHEREAS, the Board suspended salary increases for Elected Officials for the year 2009 with exception to the 3rd District County Commissioner due to the Washington State Constitution precluding any change mid-term for County Commissioner positions. This resulted in the 3rd District Commissioner being paid 3% more than Districts 1 and 2 Commissioners.
WHEREAS, in 2010, all three County Commissioners received a salary increase of 3% as established by Resolution 85-01. No adjustment could be made to equalize the salaries due to the Constitution precluding any change mid-term for County Commissioner positions.
WHEREAS, in 2011 the 3rd District County Commissioner will start a new term and it is the desire of the Commissioners to have all three Commissioners paid the same salary.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED to suspend the 3% increase for the 3rd District County Commissioner.
Approved this 25th day of May 2010.
Signed by Ross Gallagher and Tim Sheldon with Lynda Ring Erickson absent.
Mason County, what does this resolution mean? I clearly get that District 3's (Ross' position) salary is frozen. But will Lynda and Tim get a 3% increase in salary in 2011? We may just have to wait to see what happens in the 2011 budget development process.
In the meantime, let's ask Monty Cobb (current deputy prosecutor) who is running for County Prosecutor where he comes down on the commissioners' annual pay raise, the Washington State Constitution and Mason County Resolution 85-01. Monty signed off on the above resolution. Maybe he can explain all of this to us before we get our ballots.
Shenanigans like this make the public even more cynical and further erode trust in public institutions.
Thursday, June 3, 2010
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Ross has even more competition for his seat as we now officially have another democrat in the race. From the KMAS news;
ReplyDeleteA local mom and small business owner, Laura Ann Lewis, has officially announced she is running for Mason County Commissioner District 3. In a news release confirming what 1030 KMAS News first reported last week, the mother of two and owner of Sugar Cakes says she is running as a Democrat. Lewis has lived in Mason County for 20 years and is a volunteer outreach coordinator for Incinerator Free Mason County, the group opposed to the ADAGE biomass project. According to the release, her campaign team consists of six "thirty-something" women, including five Shelton mothers. Lewis joins Republican Terra Dittmer and Independent Jerry Lingle in challenging Democratic Incumbent Ross Gallagher. The official filing period for the election begins Monday. The Primary Election is August 17th.
Currently Positions 1 & 2 make 3% less than Position 3, therefore they froze the 3% raise for Position 3 in 2011, yes, resulting in a raise for Position 1 & 2. End result is all three positions will make the same salary in 2011. I'm not saying I agree with the salaries of the County Commissioners, but it seems fair that they all make the same wage.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous, I just don't understand then why at the June 11 BOCC meeting they denied that Tim and Lynda would receive a salary increase in 2011. It's a puzzle. Did they or didn't they? I still can't say. You may an excellent point - they should all three make the same salary.
ReplyDeleteBrenda, they are not always the most articulate bunch down there.. well, I refer to them as the three stooges, but thats my personal opinion for various reasons.. lol..
ReplyDeletelooking at the 2010 Budget Acount: 001-080-000 and comparing the salaries you will notice the following:
2007 all three positions made $69,627
2008 all three positions made $68,728
2009 pos 1&2 made $71,716 and Pos 3 $73,867
2010 pos 1&2 will make $73,867 and Pos 3 $76,084
I have heard Ross didn't want to make a higher salary than the others, so he actually donates the difference in his salary to charities in the area..
Anonymous, while I can't confirm all of the salaries you've provided above, here are a few more years of the commissioners' salary history:
ReplyDelete2006 all three made $67,599
2005 all three made $65,630
2004 Dist 1 &2 made $59,539 and Dist 3 made $63,718
2003 Dist 1 & 2 made $57,805 and Dist 3 made $61,862
But the big deal is that on the current trajectory by 2020 they will be making right around $100,000 per year.
Brenda,
ReplyDeleteThe State Constitution Art XI, Sec 8 precludes increases (EXCEPT as authorized in Art XXX Sec 1) or decreases in county official's salaries during their term of office or after their election.
Art XXX, Sec 1 allows for mid-term increases in salaries of county officials IF THEY DO NOT FIX THEIR OWN COMPENSATION--which excludes county commissioners since they set their compensation.
In the case of officials who set their own salary, these two provisions have been consistently interpreted to say that if the increase is established prior to the term starting, that is constitutionally acceptable. So, I think it was Res 85-01 which set a regular 3% annual increase for the commissioners. (I'm not 100% sure of the Res. numbers since I don't have the documents here at home--I know you find that surprising!
There was another salary adjustment made by resolution which is visible in the salary change 2004-2005 which would have been at the turn of office terms for Districts 1 and 2. This resulted in all three positions being paid the same until 2009. Prior to the start of the 2009-2012 term, the BOCC suspended the 3% increase authorized in Res. 85-01 for Districts 1 and 2--the two positions starting a new term. The BOCC could not suspend the 3% increase for District 3 because that position was mid-term (1/2007-12/2010)
So this year, with District 3 at the change of terms, the BOCC rebalanced the salaries by a one year suspending of the 3% annual increase authorized in Res 85-01 for District 3 only.
In a much shorter explanation: District 1 and 2 did not GIVE themselves a raise this year BUT they GOT a 3% raise because of Res 85-01. On the other hand, the BOCC could not have prevented District 1 and 2 from getting the 3% because of Res 85-01 and ART XI sec 8 because it would have reduced a predetermined salary.
and you are correct: at the 3% a year clip, the 2020 salary will be about $102,250
Monty, thank you for this very clear explanation of what is going on. This really does help me to understand the issue at hand.
ReplyDeleteAre the Commissioners salaries subject to voter approval or rejection?
ReplyDelete