Elected county officials to get raises

Whitman County elected officials will get more than a two percent cost of living raise next year following a recommendation by the county’s salary commission.

According to Kelli Campbell, county human resources manager, the commission used a formula to determine how much the officials should get during its annual meeting last week.

The salary commission increased elected officials’ salaries last year by about seven percent after denying increases for the last three years. Those raises went into effect at the start of this year.

The commission compares Whitman County’s salaries to those of Stevens, Okanogan, Kittitas, Douglas and Jefferson counties.

Commissioners’ salaries now are $5,229 per month and will be raised to $5,357 at the start of next year.

The assessor, auditor, clerk and treasurer monthly salaries are $5,232 and will be $5,360 in 2014. The sheriff’s monthly salary is now $6,711 and will be $6,875.

The prosecutor’s monthly salary will increase from $10,451 to $10,706. More than half of the prosecutor’s salary is paid by the state.

The coroner’s monthly salary will be raised from $5,407 to $5,539 in 2014.

Gary Petrovich, county administrative director, said the total impact on the county budget will be $21,000 in wages and benefits.

In 2006, the commission expanded the coroner from a part-time to a full-time position, doubling the coroner’s pay.

Commission Chair Paul Eichenberg of Palouse last year said Martin deserves the salary because he is the only elected official who can be called to duty at any hour of any day.

According to the commission’s report, only one of the comparable counties has a coroner.

Since 2007, the coroner’s salary has been higher than the assessor, auditor, clerk and treasurer and the commission is maintaining that salary spread, according to the report.

Salaries for county judges are set by the state legislature.

The 10-member salary commission was created by county commissioners in 2004 to take the pay decision out of their hands. The commission consists of two residents from each commissioner district, a personnel management professional, an organized labor representative, a legal professional and a business representative.

The four advisory positions are appointed by county commissioners and the representative slots are filled by volunteers chosen at random from the county’s voter rolls. The commission meets annually.

The raises begin Jan. 1, 2014.