Commissioners should reallocate some salaries

The Bonner County sheriff is paid $56,000 per year plus benefits of $16,500. The sheriff has a current budget in excess of $6,600,000 and is in charge of managing 109 employees, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The Bonner County clerk is paid $56,000 per year plus benefits the clerk has a current budget in excess of $2,800,000 and is in charge of managing 45 employees 35 hours a week in numerous departments.

The Bonner County treasurer is paid $56,000 per year plus benefits. The treasurer has a budget of less than $350,000 and is in charge of managing five employees 35 hours per week.

What is wrong with this picture?

These compensation packages were established by the commissioners. What were they thinking? The sheriff is either the first or second highest paid elected official in 42 of Idaho’s 44 counties due to the level of responsibility.

The commissioners are on record of no increase in payroll budget this next fiscal year. But if they are responsible, they would reallocate the above salaries as follows:

Sheriff — $68,000

Clerk — $56,000

Treasurer — $44,000

This reallocation would make Bonner County more comparable to other Idaho counties as illustrated by the Idaho Association of Counties’ 2010 County Salary Survey: All County Elected Officials.

JOHN W. MARAS

Sagle