The Kootenai County clerk met with the commissioners on Thursday to appeal the downgrade of two positions in his department, out of concern that those positions would be under-compensated as a result. "You're lowering the amount they could potentially earn," said Clerk Cliff Hayes, speaking in the commissioners' board room. "That's the bottom line." This was one more step in a several-year process to classify hundreds of job descriptions at Kootenai County. Following a consultant's review in 2005, a Position Review Committee comprised of county officials conducted another review of the county's 294 job descriptions. Last January, the commissioners announced the committee's findings, which included lowering 99 positions by one grade, and 18 position by two grades.A decrease in grade puts a position in a different salary range, with lower earning potential/Alecia Warren, Coeur d'Alene Press. More here.

Question: Who do you support in this situation -- the commissioners or County Clerk Cliff Hayes?