Commissioners Refuse To Give Themselves A Pay Raise But They Approve 4 Percent Hikes For County’s Other Elected Officials

Kootenai County commissioners gave raises Tuesday to all the county’s elected officials - except themselves.

Commissioners Dick Compton and Dick Panabaker voted to increase salaries 4 percent for the county clerk, treasurer, sheriff, assessor, prosecutor and coroner.

Commissioner Ron Rankin voted against the measure.

Compton and Panabaker said the increases will bring the officials’ salaries up to par with average salaries for those positions in the state’s six largest counties.

Rankin, however, argued that county workers have great insurance benefits and an unusually lucrative retirement plan and already make higher wages than many county residents do.

“I feel we’re doing a darn good job, but I think we’re well-paid for what we’re doing,” Rankin said.

Commissioners’ salaries will remain at $40,798 a year.

New salaries are: Clerk Dan English - $42,430;

Treasurer Jeanine Ashcraft - $41,060;

Assessor Marv Vandenberg - $42,430;

Sheriff Pierce Clegg - $48,370;

Prosecutor Bill Douglas - $61,570;

Coroner Robert West - $10,600 (part time).

Commissioners already had set money aside to give each county employee an average salary increase of 4 percent. Department heads will distribute that money as they see fit.

Panabaker said commissioners left their own salaries alone because they already make about what commissioners in other counties do.

“When we took this job on, we agreed to take the job at that salary,” Panabaker said.

But he acknowledged commissioners might change the salary at this time next year. That way, any change would take effect after an election, Panabaker said.

, DataTimes