Peanut Gallery — Commissioners’ Raises

While the necessity of the recent raises for elected officials in Kootenai County is open to debate, the timing seems poor. The recommendations of the pay study regarding employee raises have only been partially implemented. Rather than finishing the job, commissioners gave more recently hired Sheriff’s employees small or long overdue increases (like 4 dollars for a long-term employee who was essentially at base pay prior to the increase-one of the few sizable raises and the one frequently referenced by the media) while long-term employees got little or nothing. Only a few employees with more than 4 years experience received increases and those were small. This leaves the most valuable staff members, in terms of training and experience, waiting for the increases recommended by the pay study. Clearly, the commissioners felt that the elected officials were a more immediate concern than their staff, in spite of staff attrition being the reason they wanted the study do! ne. The commissioners will argue that the rest of the pay issues (like future cost of living increases) are still being examined and theoretically will be implemented at some (mythical) later date. Congratulations to elected officials and their successful alienation of so many valuable employees.

Matthew A. Rakes
Rathdrum, ID

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