Committee rejects overall pay hike for elected officials; cost-of-living raise still on the table

The Vernon County Salary Committee met yesterday at the Vernon County Courthouse, where they voted unanimously to reject a salary increase for 2009 elected officials. However, the meeting did result in the possibility of current officials getting the first cost-of-living pay raise in Vernon County history.

Attending the meeting were commissioners Bonnie McCord, Neal Gerster and Kennon Shaw; Vernon County Sheriff Ron Peckman, Vernon County Prosecuting Attorney Lynn Ewing III, Vernon County Treasurer and Collector Phil Couch, Vernon County Clerk Tammi Beach; Vernon County Assessor Cherie Roberts; Vernon County Recorder Doug Shupe and Vernon County Coroner David Ferry. Unable to attend but part of the committee was Vernon County Public Administrator Virginia Habjan.

Beach began the meeting by reporting to the members that the current county budget is lower than last year's in some categories.

Nevertheless, Couch had some good news for the county. Due to the removal of township collectors, the county will be receiving approximately $225,000 from tax collections -- which would formerly have gone to the township collectors -- to be placed into the general fund.

Ewing, who was named chairman of the committee, brought up two topics of discussion regarding salaries for elected officials; a raise of salary for those elected into 2009 office by way of 2008 elections and cost-of-living raises for current officials.

Currently, the county is paying elected officials 100 percent of what is allowed by Missouri statute. The statute reads, "if the County's Assessed Valuation is between $190 million and $249,999,999, elected officials are to make a maximum of $41,500 annually." Vernon County reported its assessed valuation to be in the neighborhood of $214 million, keeping the county within the state-designated figures and not justifying an increase.

In light of this, the committee voted unanimously against any changes to elected 2009 official's salary.

Salaries have not changed since 1997 when they went from $41,047 to the current $41,500 according to Couch.

After deciding against a general raise, the committee discussed the possibility of a cost of living increase for officials. It was noted that the committee was only suggesting the raise in pay and the Commission would have to approve this increase after reviewing the county budget.

Southern Commissioner Shaw spoke with hesitation about the increase due to other monetary hardships felt by the county this year. "I think every one knows it's been a hard year," said Shaw, "Next year we'll be paying for the new jail with no income from it. I see next year being tougher than this year."

Despite this, the committee voted a unanimous yes to the idea of suggesting a cost of living raise to the commission. If the commission agrees, it would be the first time in Vernon County history that elected officials received a cost of living pay raise.

It was also noted that because of county employees receiving regular mandatory cost of living and general increases in salary, at some point elected officials could be making less than several of their employees.

No date for the commission's review of the cost-of-living recommendation was set during Thursday's meeting.