Two out of five Thurston County commissioners voted against salary increases for elected officials on Tuesday.
Recently elected Commissioner Emily Clouse voted against the raises, saying she did not feel these increases aligned with the needs of the Thurston County community.
"Right now, we're facing exponential inflation and stagnant sales tax rates, bringing our revenues to a scary place, quite frankly." Clouse said. "I can't in good conscious support an increase for elected officials that surpasses the COLA (cost-of-living-adjustment) that our county employees will receive."
The Board of County Commissioners took up the matter Tuesday after a citizen's group approved salary recommendations last month. However, the board reduced the amount from the recommendations and approved 5.8% increases for most elected officials.
The county's budget indicates staff are expecting a 3.5% cost-of-living adjustment in 2024. Staff also got a retroactive 4% cost-of-living increase for 2023, according to Commissioner Tye Menser.
Interim County Manager Robin Campbell acknowledged that elected officials are getting a higher raise than county staff in 2024. However, she said elected officials have not received salary increases in eight of the last 16 years. Elected officials did not get salary increases in 2021 and 2023, she added.
"The 5.8% is an effort to begin to catch their salaries up with where they are set for their employees," Campbell said. "No elected official, other than the prosecutor, has a salary that is set higher than their deputy in their office."
The Citizen's Commission on Salaries for Elected Officials is responsible for setting salaries for county commissioners and making recommendations on the salaries for other county elected officials.
The citizen's group already increased 2024 commissioner salaries by 5.8% to $11,630 per month, or $139,560 per year. They also recommended a 12% increase for the Prosecuting Attorney, 7% increases for the Sheriff and Auditor, and 5.8% increases for the Assessor, Clerk, Coroner and Treasurer.
While most elected officials will see a 5.8% increase, the resolution says the Prosecuting Attorney's salary will be set at the amount paid to Superior Court judges during 2024.
Here's what elected officials will make in 2024.
* Prosecuting Attorney: $222,837
* Sheriff: $172,416
* Assessor: $139,560
* Auditor: $139,560
* Clerk: $139,560
* Coroner: $139,560
* Treasurer: $139,560
The Prosecuting Attorney will receive $108,696 from Jan. 1 to June 30 and $114,131 from July 1 to the end of the year, according to the resolution.
Commissioner Gary Edwards joined Clouse in voting against the increase. He said he believes no incumbent should get a raise while they remain in office.
"Those adjustments should be made at the next elective cycle," Edwards said. "I haven't won that argument yet, but I want to stay consistent. That's my two cents."
Commissioner Wayne Fournier, who joined the board this month, said he approved of the raises but called the situation "wonky."
"I know we have a budget crisis," Fournier said. "We need to be mindful of that. There's lots of things that are wonky and this is one of them."
Fournier said it made "no sense" for subordinates of elected officials to make more money than their superiors. He added these positions need to remain competitive as well.
"It's a hard thing to figure out," Fournier said before the vote. "I don't think we're doing it right. But right now, we have something that's before us that makes the most sense but doesn't fix it."
Menser said rejecting increases for other elected officials would put the board in a difficult spot.
"We would have a situation where we would get a pay increase that we could not affect and then other elected officials wouldn't," Menser said. "I'm very uncomfortable with that."
The board will have conversations about how the county sets salary increases for elected officials next year, Menser said. Yet, he said he believes there is no "perfect solution."
"Every way throws something out of whack," Menser said. "That's why we've just kind of stuck with what we've had for a while. Because at least it puts it, really, onto the purview of our citizen's commission."
Commissioner and Board Chair Carolina Mejia agreed with Menser.
