Big pay raises for county officials is not a good idea

Elected officials should make a fair salary. A salary commission is a good way to determine what is fair and appropriate, because it removes politics from the process. But the parameters chosen by the commission need to be realistic and applied consistently.

In 2003, the Spokane County Citizens’ Commission on Salaries determined that the county commissioners would get no raise. This year, it granted a 9.3 percent increase, or $7,000. It also recommended that the auditor, treasurer, assessor, clerk, prosecuting attorney and sheriff be given raises that range from 8.5 percent to 14 percent. In both years, the panel considered performance, comparisons to other counties and the state of the budget. Did that much change in two years?

In 2003, the state of the budget was the overriding factor. All three commissioners said don’t give them a raise. This year, none of them are complaining about their raises or the recommended raises for executives. In fact, they are making arguments that were just as true two years ago: Some underlings make more than they do; they work long hours and don’t get overtime; executives make more in other counties.

From the point of view of the commission and the commissioners themselves, the raises are deserved. “We gave it to them, and we think they earned it,” said commission member Robert Coomes.

Mark Richard and Todd Mielke just got there. They haven’t had time to earn a raise. That aside, many people in the public and private sectors deserve large raises but don’t get them. The commissioners’ pay has increased 33 percent in five years. That’s way out of line with what’s happened in the work force since 2000.

Look at this from the point of view of Spokane Valley taxpayers, who now must pay city council members in the newly incorporated city and higher salaries for three commissioners who have less impact on their lives.

Salaries should be competitive to forestall an exodus of talented workers, but why does this apply to elected officials? Will they run for office in Pierce County if they’re not paid well enough here?

The county is still going through rough times. Budgets have been slashed. Reserves are dwindling. The criminal justice system, including the jail, is stressed. An expensive new sewage plant must be built. The Health District can’t get more funding.

Pay raises for county leaders should reflect that reality.