Inyo Board of Supervisors Gave Themselves a Raise

UPDATE: The Board of Supervisors will be voting on raises for county employees and themselves tomorrow morning as timed items at 11am for to Provide for “Increases in the Salary for Certain Elected County Officials, Excluding Members of the Board of Supervisors” at 11am and then at 11:15am on “Increases in the Salary for Members of the Board of Supervisors.”

Tuesday’s broadcast can be watched live via this link: https://zoom.us/j/868254781

[Original Post by Deb Murphy] The Inyo Board of Supervisors voted 4-1 to bump their salaries by 26-percent, up from $57,180 to $72,060 annually.

Jeff Griffiths, Third District Supervisor, was lone ‘”NO” vote.

The lone hold-out was Supervisor Jeff Griffiths with a simple “no” vote and no explanation.

Supervisor Jennifer Roeser suggested she maintain the $57,180 salary for her first year since she felt she was still in the learning stage. Supervisor Matt Kingsley talked her out of that. “We work hard,” he said.

The vote came at the end of a long presentation by Chief Administrative Officer Clint Quilter. Two years ago, the plan was to make salary adjustments to attain equity among departments with a presentation and vote by the Board in spring of 2020. Then COVID happened and salary adjustments were postponed until the general economy stabilized.

Quilter’s methodology was based on percentages of his own salary and comparisons to other smaller, rural counties. The Board liked the process.

Matt Kingsley, Fifth District Supervisor, said, “We work hard.”

Griffiths expressed discomfort at voting on his own salary; the other Supervisors agreed. “The same methodology was used (for staff wage increases),” Kingsley said. “We want good people to run. I’m happy to talk to my constituents about how hard I work.”

There will be a second vote on the increases as the Board’s June 15 meeting. Mono County Board of Supervisors will be voting on a salary increase at its June 15 meeting. That Board’s increase will bring the annual income to $300 more than the Inyo Board’s previous salary.

 

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Mark T Vincent
Mark T Vincent
1 year ago

The concept of public servitude has been polluted by self administered fiscal entitlement. An increase of non voter approved salary increases should be linked to their volunteer hours. That way hard working administrators can set a proper example for those they portend to work for. Ie.. a 25% salary increase… Read more »

flabbergasted
flabbergasted
1 year ago

That’s crazy!!! What do the Bishop City Council members make? Are they giving themselves raises too?

informed resident
informed resident
1 year ago
Reply to  flabbergasted

Bishop City Council members make $500/month. It’s obvious who the real community servants are and who the self-interested politicians in this valley are.

District 2 Voter
District 2 Voter
1 year ago

Am I missing something here? The original article said the Board already “voted 4-1 to bump their salaries,” yet the update states the Board will be voting this upcoming Tuesday “on raises for county employees and themselves.” Also adding to the confusion of this article is “for to Provide for”… Read more »

Charles James
1 year ago

Please re-read the article. The problem you have (as did we apparently) is in the process used by the board. The supervisors did in fact vote to move forward the approval of their salary increases to the next phase, the final vote, which was taken by the writer to be… Read more »

District 2 Voter
District 2 Voter
1 year ago
Reply to  Charles James

After looking at the meeting agendas it is clear to me now. If the use of “for to Provide for” is not grammatically incorrect, it’s a very clunky way to convey the message. Definitely not clear and straightforward compared to other ways it could have been written.

That Old Adage Is True
That Old Adage Is True
1 year ago

You get what you pay for.

SierraWaveReader
SierraWaveReader
1 year ago

SierraWave, please pin this article at the top of the page until the next election cycle is over! Another idea for an article is what accomplishments each board member has achieved to justify such a raise. Any subordinate walking into their boss’s office asking for a big raise on the… Read more »

Frankly speaking
Frankly speaking
1 year ago

Frankly, the county supervisors giving themselves a 26% raise is obscene. They should be ashamed to even consider this. It is amazing that these supervisors, except for Griffiths, all of whom are comfortably well-off, have roofs over their heads, beds to sleep in, and no concerns over food insecurity or… Read more »

Karen Rotchstein
Karen Rotchstein
1 year ago

We know Inyo County cannot afford to give away money. We cannot give money away like this. Hard work? Qualifications? Explain.

David
David
1 year ago

I want a raise. I make 14 an hour after taxes I make about 20k a year. What do you say at giving me a 26% raise? I made more than that as a private in the US Army 20 years ago.

Jubie
Jubie
1 year ago
Reply to  David

It depends David, do you “work hard”?

Low
Low
1 year ago

It’s odd how it’s not a conflict of interest to vote for their own salaries. Should be up to the voters.

Sierra mom
Sierra mom
1 year ago

What? A 26% raise plus benefits!?!?! I would like to know how I can give myself a 26% raise for working part time! After the tough year & a half that we’ve had & so many having financial difficulties, please explain how all of you can look at us still… Read more »

Land of making it rain
Land of making it rain
1 year ago

OMG people – quit your whining and look on the bright side! Are you kidding me? If there’s open seats…I’m running for $upervisor!!!

Steve
Steve
1 year ago

Kingsley said. “We want good people to run. I’m happy to talk to my constituents about how hard I work.”

Good to know, maybe now they won’t run unopposed. We all want good people to run.

VillageWitch
VillageWitch
1 year ago

Of course they did! True politicians they have become!

You Can't Be Serious
You Can't Be Serious
1 year ago

Yeah after putting up that ugly $25 million county office building for us all see they sure deserve a raise.

Maskless Local
Maskless Local
1 year ago

Typical of do nothing politicians, raises should be something based on positive accomplishments not because can decide to “give themselves a raise”. An insight into how they view themselves…