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Beltrami County commissioners vote themselves a pay hike
Dec 17, 2008 (The Bemidji Pioneer - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) --
Even though Beltrami County faces the potential loss of state aid, commissioners Tuesday night voted themselves a salary hike.
Commissioner Jack Frost failed in his attempt to freeze salaries at the 2008 level of $19,705.58, after his motion to do so failed to gain a second.
"I talked with an Itasca County commissioner, and they get paid $30,000," Frost said. "I'm not suggesting we get paid that enumeration, but it needs to be borne that some people think we are overpaid. We are not."
The other commissioners tried to get Frost to change his motion to follow past County Board policy of raising their salaries by the same amount as contract settlements.
"We should stay at the pay rate we are currently," said Frost. "That's my motion. I was not seeking a pay raise for 2009."
Commissioner Joe Vene, who first seconded Frost's motion, thinking he offering the higher raise but then withdrew his second, said the county's comparable worth plan follows raises given everyone else.
County Administrator Tony Murphy presented union agreements Tuesday for three bargaining units -- Law Enforcement Labor Services, Teamsters Non-Licensed Communications Officer/Corrections Officer, and Teamsters Licensed Deputies unions -- all calling for 2.75 percent raises for 2009 and 2.5 percent for 2010.
"I also think we are not overpaid, but well underpaid," said Commissioner Jim Heltzer, who made the motion to increase commissioner salaries 2.75 percent to $20,247,48. The board should continue to raise salaries at the same level as other county employees, he added.
"Beltrami County is at the bottom of any county with a comparable population," said Vene. "We're not in this for monetary gain. I would support a modest adjustment, a small increment as we do other county employees."
Murphy said commissioners got a 3 percent raise last year.
In a chart provided by Murphy, Beltrami County ranks in the bottom half of counties in commissioner pay that tops out at $90,276 for Hennepin County and ends with Lincoln County at $12,160.
In some surrounding counties where figures were provided, commissioner pay in Clearwater County is $20,336, Roseau County $18,200, Pennington County $17,700, Itasca County $30,574.54, Marshall County $20,685 and Lake of the Woods County $14,700.
"My sense is we're going to face some tough budget decisions," said Frost, who dissented in a 3-1 vote to raise salaries, with Commissioner Quentin Fairbanks absent.
Heltzer said commissioners always have the choice to personally not accept the higher salary, and Vene said he will continue his practice of donating a portion of his county salary to charity.
Commissioner Ron Otterstad voted for the higher pay even though he will not receive it. Incoming Commissioner-elect Jim Lucachick will take his place -- he ran a campaign calling for freezing commissioner salaries.
To see more of The Bemidji Pioneer, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to
http://www.bemidjipioneer.com. Copyright (c) 2008, The Bemidji Pioneer, Minn.
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