Three Clark County officials Tuesday balked at the county commissioners’ proposal to lower pay for the District 3 commissioner seat, saying it would also reduce their salaries.
The District 3 position, currently filled by appointed Commissioner Ed Barnes, is the highest paid of the three seats, receiving an annual salary of $106,224. Under the new proposal, pay for the position would drop to $102,224 next year, the same amount as the other two positions, and possibly stay there until 2018. The move is expected to save the county $46,400 during the next biennium.
At the same time, the commissioners approved bumping their per-month vehicle allowance by $100 starting next year. They’ll receive $700 a month, resulting in $25,200 a year dedicated to the commissioners’ cars.
Commissioners approved the ordinance decreasing the District 3 seat’s pay, but not before Auditor Greg Kimsey, Assessor Peter Van Nortwick and Treasurer Doug Lasher voiced their disapproval.
They said it was inappropriate to cut their pay at a time when the county’s hired employees continue to receive cost-of-living adjustments. Their salaries, along with Clerk Scott Weber’s, are tied to what the top-paid commissioner receives. They receive 95 percent of that salary.
Kimsey said it was awkward to come before the commissioners with a complaint about pay, but he and the other officials did so because there are employees who are paid more than their supervisors.
“It’s about respect for the offices we hold,” said Kimsey, a Republican.
If there are employees who make more than elected officials, Democrat Lasher said, “it creates inconsistency.”
One of the hired employees who is paid more than his bosses is County Administrator Mark McCauley, who answers to the commissioners but receives an annual salary of roughly $145,000.
Van Nortwick, a Republican, offered a counterproposal that would freeze the other elected officials’ salaries where they are.
The only salaries that would be affected by the commissioners’ decision would be the other elected officials, Van Nortwick said. He pointed out that everyone at the county was getting a pay raise except for the assessor, treasurer, clerk and auditor, who’d all see their pay cut. But outside of Barnes’ recommendation to postpone the decision for a week, the commissioners were reluctant to budge, arguing that reducing the District 3 commissioner’s pay would realign their salaries and create equity within their ranks.
Commissioners had been under a deadline to make a decision because of the upcoming election. While commissioners have the ability to set salaries for future years, they can’t do so for their own positions during their current terms.
Because the District 3 seat is currently up for grabs — with Barnes scheduled to step down at the end of the year, and either Democrat Craig Pridemore or Republican Jeanne Stewart stepping in — the commissioners had until the upcoming election was certified to set a new salary.
Home rule charter
With the general election hanging on the horizon, Tuesday’s discussion turned into a debate about the merits of the proposed home rule charter, which Kimsey supports and Republican County Commissioners David Madore and Tom Mielke oppose. The charter calls for revamping the role of the commissioners, renaming them councilors in the process, and lowering their pay to $53,000 a year. The council chairperson would receive $64,000 a year.
Madore asked Kimsey how he could support the charter while at the same time asking the commissioners not to reduce their own pay, and by extension the salaries of other elected officials.
Kimsey responded by saying he didn’t understand the logic behind reducing the salaries for other elected officials when their duties wouldn’t change under the charter.
“I would remind you that the home rule charter is not in effect, and may not be in effect,” Kimsey said.
Madore pressed the point, calling the charter the “elephant in the room,” to which Kimsey said he’d be happy to debate the merits of the charter.
The debate never happened, though, as commission Chairman Mielke called for public comments to move along.
Arguing that Clark County isn’t keeping pace with other Washington jurisdictions when it comes to pay, Lasher said a number of less-populated counties — Thurston and Kitsap, for example — pay their elected officials more than Clark County.
By then, though, the discussion had wound down. Kimsey patted Lasher on the shoulder and said, “You’re not going to win this argument.”
Car allowance hike
Earlier in the meeting, the commissioners approved by a 2-1 vote increasing the per-month amount they receive for driving. Starting in 2015, commissioners will receive $700 a month for gas and vehicle maintenance.
The county’s other elected officials receive a $400-per-month vehicle allowance.
Madore opposed the increase, saying the commissioners were already paid well and needed to lead by example and not appear to be a “special, privileged class.”
However, he was outnumbered by Barnes and Mielke, who supported the increase. Democrat Barnes said Madore could afford to take less money, a swipe at Madore’s wealth.
“I don’t think it’s fair to start limiting money until (the next commissioner) is affected by it,” Barnes said. “I think it should stay the same until the next commissioner is elected.”
