York County Press Release
Editor’s note: This is the second installment in a series of stories about the York County Commissioners’ long conversation this past week regarding the county’s budget and the need to trim $2.6 million in tax asking in order to comply with authority regulations.
YORK – The York County Commissioners discussed at length the proposed wages and salaries for county employees, department heads and deputy elected officials.
Regarding the deputy elected officials – the commissioners were given recommendations by the elected officials who oversee each of those departments.
“Yes, these are the recommendations given to us but it takes a majority of this particular board to set these,” said Commissioner Chairman Daniel Grotz.
State law calls for deputy elected officials to make at least 65% of the salary paid to their corresponding elected official.
The following were the recommendations sent to the commissioners regarding the deputy officials’ pay:
- Deputy assessor: currently paid $28.96 an hour, recommended raise to $31.86
- Deputy attorney: currently paid $113,000 a year, recommended raise to $117,000
- Deputy district court clerk: currently paid $25.50 an hour, recommended raise to $26.50
- Deputy treasurer: currently paid $28 an hour, recommended raise to $29
- Deputy clerk: currently paid $25.50 an hour, recommended raise to $26.50
- Deputy public defender: recommended pay of $65 an hour
Commissioner Chairman Daniel Grotz noted how one of the higher paid employees is the deputy county attorney, “and that position did not get a raise last year. It is recommended to go to $117,000 a year, my brain is saying $115,000.”
“I’m nervous we will lose some of our better employees to the private sector and I think an increase is more than fair for this position, due to the unfair scrutiny the person receives,” said Commissioner Andy Bowman.
“And this is a specialty position, Mr. Johnson does a good job for us and Polk County,” said Commissioner Randy Obermier. “It really all comes down to what our budget can afford.”
Obermier said about other positions, “Regarding the deputy clerk, treasurer, clerk of district court and assessor, even though they are all different, keeping them somewhat on an even playing field would be nice, for those four.”
York County Assessor Kurt Bulgrin said he asked for additional money of more than $1 an hour for his deputy due to the certifications she has to have and has earned.
“Kurt’s right, his office is the only one of those four which needs those certifications and that deputy has been here longer than others,” Obermier said. “I’d have no problem with a little more there. They all deserve something.”
The commissioners will set in stone the wages and salaries after further budget work is done and the bottom line is more clear.
