Gordon Forgey: An outrageous inequity

Some years back, the Whitman County commissioners decided to give up control of their salaries and the salaries of their elected cohorts and turn it over to an independent citizen committee.

As a result, on Tuesday night, the county’s elected officials received substantial salary increases.

The decision is final and absolute.

Now, everyone has to live with it.

Surely, those elected officials receiving the increases will have no problem living with it.

It is just the rest of us that may have problems. Some lower level county employees may have problems with it, too.

Remember, the county is broke. At least that is what we are told.

It is the reason given for the commissioners’ cost-cutting fervor when determining the wages of others. Recently, courthouse staffers got a one-time bonus because the commissioners said the county could not afford to give raises. Yet, apparently, there is enough money in the coffers for their own raises.

The inequity is outrageous, and it should be a matter of discussion in the upcoming campaigns.

The county needs a standard of pay for all employees. Often, as in the case of these raises, certain other counties are used as a benchmark to help establish wages. It is just that different counties and different percentages are applied in different cases.

Managing payroll is one of the most important elements in balancing budgets. It is one of the most fundamental jobs of a manager. It should be in the hands of those elected by the people.

Perhaps, then, the inequities will end.

Gordon Forgey

Publisher