Changes to Salary Commission Board enacted

COLFAX — During a Monday, Dec. 18, meeting, the Whitman County Commissioners moved to approve Whitman County code Chapter 2.02, Salary Commission amendments, changing appointment to the Salary Commission Board through selection of the county auditor.

According to the Final Bill Report for Substitute Senate Bill (SSB) 5267, salaries of county commissioners and council members may be set by salary commissions established by ordinance or by resolution of the county legislative authority.

Commissioner Michael Largent said that the ordinance was rewritten by Commissioner Art Swannack with changes in language due to legislative action taken in Olympia. “It changes the make up of the salary commission,” he said.

“We’re updating the policies to changes in state law,” Swannack said, noting that state law changed how people are selected for the salary commission.

Swannack said the amendments would make appointments selected by the auditor, and there will be a referendum for the citizens if they wish to question if the salary should be raised.

The final draft of the Salary Commission states that nine, instead of six of 10, commission members will be selected by lot by the county auditor from among those registered voters eligible to vote.

The Salary Commission states that the auditor will select three commission members, instead of two, living in each county commissioners district.

According to the amended salary commission if a person selected moves out of the commissioner district, the position becomes vacant before the end of their term to the final draft.

The final draft of the salary commission states that the clerk of the board of county commissioners will establish the initial terms of the three newly lot selected members, with the added amendment of a relatively equal number of members who terms expire each year.

Vacancy amendments made to the commission, include the selection and appointed concluded within 30 days, instead of 60 days, a new RCW requirement.

Rules and regulations and assistance salary commission amendment is the setting of salaries will be made by an affirmative vote of not less than five, instead of six, members.

Amendments to powers and duties of the commission include any change in salary is filed by the commission with the county auditor, made effective and incorporated into the budget without further action from county legislative authority or salary unless a timely and valid referendum petition is filed. The salary commission notes that the referendum now applies to non charter counties, as well as charter counties.

Changes to the referendum includes salary increases and decreases subject to referendum petition by the people of the county according to the procedure in RCW 36.17.024(8)(b).

Added to the referendum was that if the petition does not contain the required number of signatures or is determined invalid by the County Auditor then salary changes shall be effective as per Section G of the Salary Commission.

The final draft salary commission changed that the referendum measures under the section will be submitted to the voters of the county at the next following general or municipal election from occurring thirty days or more after the petition is filed to after a signature verification per RCW 36.17.024.

In the Monday, Dec. 19, meeting, Swannack said he had talked with the prosecutor, and everything is compliant with law. A unanimous vote passed the motion for the amended salary commission.