HomeMy WebLinkAbout101121ca01 JEFFERSON COUNTY
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
AGENDA REQUEST
TO: Board of County Commissioners
FROM: Mark McCauley, Interim Jefferson County Administrator
Erin Lundgren, Interim Human Resources
urces Manager
Sarah Melancon, Incoming Human Resources Manager
DATE: October 11, 2021
RE: Proposed Resolution on Independent Elected Official Salaries
STATEMENT OF ISSUE: The Board of County Commissioners will consider adopting a proposed
Resolution to bring the salaries of the elected County Prosecutor and the elected Sheriff into
parity with the average salaries of Jefferson County's seven comparable counties, effective next
year. The proposed Resolution would leave the County's existing salaries for the position of
Assessor, Auditor, Clerk and Treasurer unchanged.
ANALYSIS: The Board of County Commissioners approved and adopted Resolution No. 42-14
on September 15, 2014, setting the salaries of Assessor, Auditor, Clerk, Prosecuting Attorney,
Sheriff and Treasurer. The salaries are expressed as a percent of the salary of a Superior Court
Judge, which is periodically set and adjusted statewide by the Washington Citizens' Commission
on Salaries for Elected Officials.
This year, after questions from several of Jefferson County's independent elected officials, and
recognizing that seven years had elapsed since adopting Resolution No. 42-14, staff reviewed
and analyzed current salary data for the independent elected county Assessor, Auditor, Clerk,
Prosecuting Attorney, Sheriff and Treasurer positions in Washington State, focusing especially
on Jefferson County's seven comparable counties, Chelan, Clallam, Douglas, Island, Lewis,
Mason, and Pacific Counties.
The analysis showed that Jefferson County's salaries for the Prosecuting Attorney and Sheriff
fell below the averages for the same positions in Jefferson County's seven comparable counties,
while the salaries of the elected positions of Assessor, Auditor, Clerk, and Treasurer did not.
The proposed Resolution would update the salary of elected positions of Prosecuting Attorney
and Sheriff to bring them into parity with the average of the salaries of Jefferson County's seven
comparable counties. The Resolution would increase the Sheriff position's salary from 56%to
58% of the Superior Court Judge salary; and increase the Prosecuting Attorney's salary from
84%to 88% of the Judge's salary, effective January 1, 2022.
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The Washington Citizens' Commission on Salaries for Elected Officials has adopted the Superior
Court Judge's salary for 2021 and 2022. The annual salary for a Superior Court Judge is
presently $199,675, and increases 1.7%to $203,169 effective July 1, 2022;
By law, Washington State makes a contribution to the Prosecuting Attorney's salary equal to
half of the Superior Court Judge salary, and the state adjusts its payment for the Prosecutor
simultaneous to when the Judge's salary adjustment goes into effect. Counties are responsible
for providing the balance of the Prosecutor's salary. In accordance with RCW 36.17.020,
whenever the Superior Court Judge's salary is adjusted by the state, Jefferson County's
Prosecuting Attorney's annual salary will change on the same date as Superior Court Judge
salary change goes into effect. In contrast, when the Judge's salary is adjusted, salary
adjustments for the Assessor, Auditor, Clerk, Treasurer and Sheriff go into effect on January 1
following the effective date of the adjustment to the Superior Court Judge salary.
The proposed Resolution repeals and replaces the existing salary resolution (Resolution No. 42-
14) effective January 1, 2022.
FISCAL IMPACT: The total salary increase in 2022 from the proposed Resolution would be
$12,050. County expenditures on retirement, and some federal and state benefits would also
increase proportionately. The County's biennial budget for 2022 and 2023 would need to
include both of these costs.
Here is the breakdown of the additional $12,050 in salary costs:
• For 2022 the Sheriff's salary would increase from 56%to 58%, at an increased salary
cost of$ 3,993. That's $115,812 new salary versus $111,818 currently.
• The Prosecutor's salary would increase from 84%to 88%., for a total increased salary
cost of$ 8,057 for all of 2022.
o For January 1—June 30, the salary increase would be $3,994, which is half of
$175,714/yr at 88%, versus $167,727/yr at 84%.
o For July 1—December 31, the Prosecutor's salary increase would cost $ 4,063,
which is half of$178,789/yr at 88%, versus $170,662/yr at 84%.
RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends that the Board approve the proposed Resolution.
REVIE BY:
0- ,
Mark McCaul , Interim County Ad/mini'tor Dat
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STATE OF WASHINGTON
fj1t (( ) County of Jefferson
In the Matter Establishing }
New Salaries for Certain Elected }
Officials of Jefferson County } RESOLUTION NO 42-14
WHEREAS, RCW 36.17.020 authorizes the Board of County Commissioners as
the County legislative authority to establish the salaries of the elected officials of the County;
and
WHEREAS,the salaries of County elected officials should be fair and
representative of the responsibilities of the office and should be in proper relation among elected
officials; and
WHEREAS,the State of Washington contributes an amount equal to one-half the
salary of a Superior Court Judge toward the salary of the elected Prosecuting Attorney. Upon
receipt of the state contribution, a county shall continue to contribute towards the salary of the
elected Prosecuting Attorney an amount that equals or exceeds that amount contributed by the
County in 2008 in accordance with RCW 36.17.020; and
WHEREAS,the County elected officials are not included on a wage matrix and do
not receive annual step increases that are received by union represented employees and other
exempt employees; and
WHEREAS, after review by the County Administrator and the Board of
Commissioners,it has been decided to create a relationship between the salary of Elected
Official positions in Jefferson County and the salary of a Superior Court Judge which is set by
the Washington Citizens Commission on Salaries for Elected Officials;and
WHEREAS, on May 22, 2013,the Washington Citizens' Commission on Salaries
for Elected Officials adopted the 2013 and 2014 Salary Schedule for Washington State Elected
Officials of the Executive,Judicial and Legislative Branches of government which increases the
salary of a Superior Court Judge to$156,363 effective September 1,2014.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED,by the Jefferson County Board of
Commissioners that the annual salary for certain Jefferson County elected positions shall be set
each year based on a percentage of the salary for a Superior Court Judge as shown below:
Elected Official Elected Official's Salary Established as a
Percent of Superior Court Judge's Salary
(Effective January 1,2015)
Assessor 47%
Auditor 47%
Clerk 47%
Treasurer 47%
Sheriff 56%
Prosecuting Attorney _ 84%
Resolution:Establishing New Salaries for Certain Elected Officials of Jefferson County
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED,that the new salaries for the elected positions of
Assessor,Auditor, Clerk, Treasurer, Sheriff and Prosecuting Attorney shall become effective January
1, 2015;and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED,that the future salaries for the office of Assessor,
Auditor, Clerk, Treasurer, Sheriff,and Prosecuting Attorney shall be based on these percentages of the
salary for a Superior Court Judge, as the Superior Court Judge salary may be adjusted in the future by
the Washington Citizens Commission on Salaries for Elected Officials. In accordance with RCW
36.17.020,future salary adjustments shall be reflected in the Prosecuting Attorney's annual salary
upon the effective date set by the Washington Citizens Commission on Salaries for Elected Officials.
Future salary adjustments for the Assessor,Auditor,Clerk, Treasurer and Sheriff shall become
effective in January following the year in which the salary for a Superior Court Judge is adjusted.
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED,that effective January 1,2015,this resolution
repeals and replaces Resolutions No. 62-13 and No. 38-14 and all prior salary matrices for the
elected positions of Assessor,Auditor,Clerk,Treasurer, Sheriff, and Prosecuting Attorney.
APPROVED AND ADOPTED this /0 day of ceep/eml er 2014.
` JEFFERSON COUNTY
• `' '��`` BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
i
SEAL:- i !f t, , : e `i
; ti.� f John ustin,Chairman
AT E51 , -.t ' •,tea
David ulhvan,Member
4ie#z /
Carolyn very
Deputy Clerk of the Board Phil Johnson, Member
Consent Agenda
Commissioners Office
JEFFERSON COUNTY
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
AGENDA REQUEST
TO: Board of County Commissioners
FROM: Philip Morley, County Administrator
Erin Lundgren,Clerk of the Board
DATE: September 15, 2014
SUBJECT: RESOLUTION NO.—re: Establishing New Salaries for Certain Elected Officials of
Jefferson County
STATEMENT OF ISSUE:
In an effort to insure the salaries of County elected officials are fair and representative of the responsibilities
of their respective offices and that they are in proper relation among elected officials,the adoption of a
resolution is being proposed that will establish a relationship between the salaries for certain Jefferson
County elected positions and the salary of a Superior Court Judge which is set by the Washington Citizens
Commission on Salaries for Elected Officials. A similar resolution was adopted earlier this year for the
County Commissioner's salaries which will take effect in January 2017.
ANALYSIS:
On May 22, 2013,the Washington Citizens' Commission on Salaries for Elected Officials adopted the 2013
and 2014 Salary Schedule for Washington State Elected Officials which increased the salary for a Superior
Court Judge to$156,363 effective September 1,2014.
The proposed resolution establishes new salaries for certain Jefferson County Elected Officials effective
January 1, 2015 based on a percentage, shown below, of the salary for a Superior Court Judge which is set by
the Washington Citizens Commission on Salaries for Elected Officials.
Elected Official Percentage
Assessor 47%
Auditor 47%
Clerk 47%
Treasurer 47%
Sheriff 56%
Prosecuting Attorney 84%
Currently,the State of Washington contributes an amount equal to one-half the salary of a Superior Court
Judge toward the salary of the elected Prosecuting Attorney. In accordance with RCW 36.17.020,the County
is required to also contribute an amount that equals or exceeds that amount contributed by the County in
2008. The County's current contribution of$52,602.08 toward the Prosecuting Attorney's salary meets that
requirement.
Consent Agenda
Commissioners Office
FISCAL IMPACT:
Effective January 1,2015,the annual salary for the elected positions of Assessor, Auditor, Clerk and
Treasurer will increase from$71,980.44 to$73,490.61 and the annual salary for the elected position of
Sheriff will increase from$85,014.96 to$87,563.28.
Also effective January 1,2015,the Prosecuting Attorney's annual salary will be$131,344.92. The County's
contribution will increase from$52,602.08 to $53,163.42 and the State will reimburse the County the balance
of$78,181.50(50%of a Superior Court Judge's salary).
Any future salary adjustments will be based on subsequent adjustments made to the salary for a Superior
Court Judge as determined by the Washington Citizens Commission on Salaries for Elected Officials and
will be calculated for each elected position based on the percentages listed above. In accordance with RCW
36.17.020 future salary adjustments shall be reflected in the Prosecuting Attorney's annual salary upon the
effective date set by the Washington Citizens Commission on Salaries for Elected Officials.Future salary
adjustments for the Assessor, Auditor,Clerk, Treasurer and Sheriff shall become effective in January
following the year in which the salary for a Superior Court Judge is adjusted.
RECOMMENDATION:
Approve and sign the resolution.
REVIEWED BY:
Philip Mort-bg unty Administrat Date
STATE OF WASHINGTON
County of Jefferson
In the Matter of Establishing New }
Salaries for Certain Elected Officials } RESOLUTION NO.
Of Jefferson County }
WHEREAS, RCW 36.17.020 authorizes the Board of County Commissioners as the
County legislative authority to establish the salaries of the elected officials of the County; and
WHEREAS, the salaries of County elected officials should be fair and representative of
the responsibilities of the office and should be in proper relation among elected officials; and
WHEREAS, the State of Washington contributes an amount equal to one-half the salary of
a Superior Court Judge toward the salary of the elected Prosecuting Attorney. Upon receipt of
the state contribution, a county shall continue to contribute towards the salary of the elected
Prosecuting Attorney an amount that equals or exceeds that amount contributed by the County in
2008 in accordance with RCW 36.17.020; and
WHEREAS, the County elected officials are not included on a wage matrix and do not
receive annual step increases that are received by union represented employees and other exempt
employees; and
WHEREAS, on September 15, 2014, the Board of Commissioners approved and adopted
Resolution No. 42-14 In the Matter of Establishing New Salaries for Certain Elected Officials of
Jefferson County, creating a relationship between the salary of Elected Official positions in
Jefferson County and the salary of a Superior Court Judge, effective beginning in 2015, which
Resolution has remained effective through the present time; and
WHEREAS, after questions from several of Jefferson County’s independent elected
officials, and recognizing that seven years had elapsed since researching and setting salary
guidelines through Resolution No. 42-14, the County reviewed and analyzed current salary data
for independent elected county officials in Washington State, including in Jefferson County’s
seven comparable counties, Chelan, Clallam, Douglas, Island, Lewis, Mason, and Pacific
Counties; and
WHEREAS, Jefferson County’s salaries for the elected positions of Prosecuting Attorney
and Sheriff fell below the averages for the same positions in Jefferson County’s seven
comparable counties, as a percentage of the salary of a Superior Court Judge; while the salaries
of the elected positions of Assessor, Auditor, Clerk, and Treasurer did not; and
WHEREAS, the Interim County Administrator and the Board of Commissioners agree it
is appropriate to update the salaries of the elected positions of Prosecuting Attorney and Sheriff
in Jefferson County to bring them into parity with the average salary of Jefferson County’s
comparable counties for those positions, expressed as a percentage of the salary of a Superior
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Court Judge, as set by the Washington Citizens’ Commission on Salaries for Elected Officials;
and
WHEREAS, the Washington Citizens' Commission on Salaries for Elected Officials has
adopted the 2021 and 2022 Salary Schedule for Washington State Elected Officials of the
Executive, Judicial and Legislative Branches of government which maintains the salary of a
Superior Court Judge at $199,675, until increasing the Superior Court Judge salary to $203,169
effective July 1, 2022;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Jefferson County Board of
Commissioners that the annual salary for certain Jefferson County elected positions shall be set
each year based on a percentage of the salary for a Superior Court Judge as shown below,
effective January 1, 2022:
Elected Official Old Salary As Set By Elected Official's Salary Comment
Resolution No. 42-14 Effective January 1, 2022
(repealed January 1, Established as a Percent
2022) of Superior Court
Judge's Salary
Assessor 47% 47% unchanged
Auditor 47% 47% unchanged
Clerk 47% 47% unchanged
Treasurer 47% 47% unchanged
Sheriff 56% 58% revised
Prosecuting Attorney 84% 88% revised
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the salaries set by this Resolution for the elected
positions of Assessor, Auditor, Clerk, Treasurer, Sheriff and Prosecuting Attorney shall become
effective January 1, 2022; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the future salaries of the office of Assessor,
Auditor, Clerk, Treasurer, Sheriff, and Prosecuting Attorney shall be based on these percentages
of the salary for a Superior Court Judge, as the Superior Court Judge salary may be adjusted in
the future by the Washington Citizens’ Commission on Salaries for Elected Officials. In
accordance with RCW 36.17.020, future salary adjustments shall be reflected in the Prosecuting
Attorney’s annual salary upon the effective date of the adjustment to the Superior Court Judge
salary set by the Washington Citizens’ Commission on Salaries for Elected Officials. Future
salary adjustments for the Assessor, Auditor, Clerk, Treasurer and Sheriff shall become effective
on January 1 following the effective date of the adjustment to the Superior Court Judge salary;
and
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that effective January 1, 2022, this Resolution repeals
and replaces Resolution No. 42-14.
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APPROVED AND ADOPTED this _____ day of October, 2021.
SEAL: JEFFERSON COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Kate Dean, Chair
ATTEST:
Greg Brotherton, Member
Carolyn Gallaway
Clerk of the Board Heidi Eisenhour, Member
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