Elected officials receive COLA, longevity raise

By BRENT SHRUM Western News Reporter

Lincoln County's elected officials are getting a 3.4-percent cost-of-living adjustment plus a 1-percent longevity raise following action last week by a committee that includes seven of the county's 12 elected office holders plus two citizen representatives.

The committee voted unanimously to grant the pay raise following a review of county finances and salaries for officials in comparable counties across the state.

"Based on this, we're right about in the middle," said Commissioner John Konzen, looking at a list of counties with similar tax bases.

The current base salary for the clerk and recorder, which sets the standard for other elected officials, is $36,048.90 and will increase to $37,274.56 with the cost-of-living adjustment. The treasurer, clerk of court and the full-time justice of the peace in Libby receive the same base salary as the clerk and recorder. The part-time superintendent of schools, coroner and Eureka justice of the peace receive a pro-rated portion of the same base salary. The three commissioners and the sheriff receive an additional $2,000 over the clerk and recorder's base salary. The county attorney's salary is paid by both the county and the state, with the county's share increasing from $36,632.14 for 2005-2006 to $37,887.97 for 2006-2007.

The 1-percent annual longevity increase was instituted by the committee two years ago for all elected officials.

Konzen noted that the county's mill value has increased from $25,663 last year to $26,988 this year — still down from a number of years ago, but "the biggest increase we've had since I've been a commissioner."

Interest earnings on investments are also expected to rise this year. Treasurer Geri Miller said the county budgeted $850,000 last year and has increased that by $100,000 in what she called a "real safe" estimate.

Darren Caldwell of Troy, one of the two citizen representatives on the committee, said he didn't think most county residents would be against the cost-of-living adjustment and the longevity increase.

"I myself think this is a pretty reasonable figure to come up with," he said.

Jeff Gruber of Libby, the other citizen representative, asked if there is any kind of evaluation system to ensure that elected officials are doing their jobs.

"The only people who evaluate us are the voters at election time," said Commissioner Rita Windom.

There are other checks and balances, said Clerk and Recorder Coral Cummings.

"If the commissioners think I'm doing something wrong, they'll tell me, and if I think they're doing something wrong or something illegal, I'll tell them," she said.

The elected officials on the committee are the three commissioners, Cummings, Miller, Sheriff Daryl Anderson and County Attorney Bernie Cassidy.

The salary increase approved by the committee applies only to elected officials, although the salaries for sheriff's deputies are based under state law on a portion of the sheriff's salary. The county commissioners will decide at a later date on salaries for non-elected county employees.