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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Letters

Questions about manager’s salary

The city of Spokane Valley’s deliberations regarding Mike Jackson’s compensation package and Sally Jackson’s predictable drivel within her letter (Oct. 10) to the Voice have created several questions in my mind.

Let’s face it. Mike Jackson is a competent, young executive. And, as such, he is very marketable. What would his answer be if an executive recruiter (a head hunter) called him directly at work or at home and asked if he would be interested in interviewing for another city manager position in another more attractive city, with more salary, more benefits and a better retirement package?

And, if Mike Jackson consents to the interview and is hired, would the city council replace him from within the city ranks or would they hire from the outside? And, the most significant question remains: What would their salary strategy be the second time around and were the citizens of Spokane Valley better served if his initial salary, etc. had been low-balled?

Gordon Spunich

Spokane Valley

City pay raises unwarranted

Is there any hope? Spokane Valley City Councilwoman Rose Dempsey is complaining that nonunion city employees won’t be getting a cost of living adjustment raise in line with union workers.

Would someone please tell me just how much the cost of living has risen in the last year? From my side of the fence it seems to have taken a dive downward. Besides, who but the public sector would even expect a raise when you consider what’s going on with our economy.

The private sector has had to make their adjustments, why should government be any different? Every political poll indicates that taxpayers across the country are pretty well fed up with the generosity government seems to demonstrate with our money.

Another case in point, the Spokane mayor allocating as high as a 17 percent raise to administrative employees while laying off police officers. I ask you who would you want to come to your assistance, a qualified police officer or the city’s human resources director.

If Ms. Dempsey wants to really grasp our economic situation, please just step out of your office at City Hall and take a look in either direction down Sprague Avenue. Just absorb the vacancies, they aren’t there because things are rosy.

J.W. Esco

Spokane Valley