Deputy pay raises rankle other officials

SANDPOINT — Bonner County’s hopes of giving employees a 4-percent raise are fading fast as commissioners pore over spending plans for the coming fiscal year.

Department heads were invited to seek the cost-of-living salary adjustment in their requested budget enhancements, but Clerk Marie Scott said the chances of granting the adjustment are slim to nil.

Some sheriff’s personnel, however, could receive boosts in pay, which isn’t sitting well with other elected officials.

The other elected officials prefaced their remarks on Tuesday by saying they have nothing against Sheriff Daryl Wheeler, but contend everybody should be playing by the same rules when submitting their budgets and making the same sacrifices.

Wheeler’s budget came with built-in salary adjustments for more than 30 positions, but other elected officials argued the adjustments should have followed the same protocols they observe.

Moreover, deputies received larger raises than other county employees in the current budget.

“It’s time for all of us in the county to stop the spending,” said Treasurer Cheryl Piehl.

Assessor Jerry Clemons echoed Piehl’s remarks.

“He’s creating disparity throughout the whole county,” said Clemons. “I’m saying that everybody needs to be treated equally.”

Wheeler responded that his office can cover the 32 parity adjustments without increasing his budget’s bottom line, partly due to retirements and other factors.

“We have the money. We can cover those raises,” said Wheeler.

Other department heads argued that there is a procedure for evaluating employee raises other than simply putting them in the budget.

But commissioners Cornel Rasor and Mike Nielsen expressed unease with directing another official how to spend their budget authority once it’s been granted.

“This commission has never told you what to pay your employees,” said Rasor.

Rich, however, contended that it’s unfair to other departments.

“If we allow you to do this, we have to allow the other department heads to do the same,” he said.