Salary panel nixes pay hike

Lincoln County commissioners are expected to vote next week on whether to give themselves and other county employees a raise, but it may be more than a formality judging by the meeting Wednesday.

By a split 5-4 vote, members of the Elected Officials Salary Committee recommended to not give raises to elected officials.

All three commissioners — Presiding Commissioner Tony Berget, Troy Commissioner Ron Downey and Eureka Commissioner Mike Cole — Treasurer Nancy Trotter Higgins and Bonnie Larson recommended to keep salaries as they are.

Panel members Clerk and Recorder Tammy Lauer, Sheriff Roby Bowe, County Attorney Bernie Cassidy and Terry Crook voted in favor of the pay increase that would have cost the county $5,000 for elected officials and more for rank-and-file county employees.

“I’m pretty reluctant to give even a cost-of-living raise,” Berget said. “Things are tight in Libby. I just don’t feel good even about a COLA increase.”

Downey agreed.

“I would mirror that sentiment,” Downey said.

Lauer reminded the panel that without a raise for the sheriff, deputies would then be ineligible for a pay increase.

“One year, they got a penny. Another year, they got a dollar,” Lauer said. 

Sheriff Bowe said he does not care about the raise, but is concerned about his deputies who work 24/7, holidays and under some agonizing circumstances.

“We’re out there all the time,” Bowe said. “My deputies have had to deal with three suicides in three days. This is not easy work.”

Elaborating, Bowe said deputies’ salaries define their longevity pay and retirement. 

“This can have a huge impact on my deputies,” Bowe said. “No. I’m not concerned about reducing morale. They’re professionals. They’ll go out there every day of the year and do their job.”

 Cassidy, the county attorney, said he voted in favor of the pay increase for people in his office because they have invested heavily in their education.

“We have some people who have been with us a long time. Also, some of these people coming out of school have $100,000 in debt. I think it’s important,” he said.

Similarly, there were those who agreed with commissioners to hold the line on salaries.

“I can see Bernie’s point of view,” said Larson “It’s been a long winter, with a loss of jobs. My business has been affected, and a lot people in Troy feel that way. That’s a lot of 2x4s (to sell),” said Larson, owner of Larson Lumber, Co., in Troy.

Berget said commissioners will vote on the recommendation Wednesday.