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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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 on a 40 hr work week equates to 10 hours of volunteer work. Only fair right ?
That’s crazy!!! What do the Bishop City Council members make? Are they giving themselves raises too?
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.
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” in the update. Lastly, the mention of “Excluding Members of the Board of Supervisors” seems to suggest the Board isn’t actually voting on their own raises. I know I could find out the correct info myself by taking the time to track it down on the County website, but isn’t a news outlet the place to come to avoid the time required for that?
I agree we need to hold our elected officials accountable. Can we also agree we should hold our local media accountable for sloppy writing like this?
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 a foregone conclusion. There is often a first, and even sometimes a second “reading” of an ordinance required before a final vote on ordinances are taken. It is possible, although unlikely, that the supervisors might not approve the ordinance to raise their own salaries even though there appears little support from the public for them to do so. Mono County is poised to do the exact same thing…and they are paid much less than the Inyo County Supervisors. Political office holders voting on their own compensation seems like a conflict of interest and shady at best. I’m sure Deb will take your comments into consideration in the future to better explain the process.
To your other point, look carefully at the update: “…timed items at 11am for to Provide for “Increases in the Salary for Certain Elected County Officials, Excluding Members of the Board of Supervisors” and then at 11:15am on “Increases in the Salary for Members of the Board of Supervisors.” That seems pretty clear and straightforward.
And you are right, local media should be held accountable for sloppy writing and, when possible, should clarify their misstatements or misunderstandings. But nor are they or anyone else perfect. There is no such thing as perfect writing, especially in dealing with and trying to explain the arcane rules of government. Elected officials literally have to have a lawyer sitting at the table at public meetings just to tell them what they can or cannot do or say. Frankly, it’s too complicated and confusing, and yet another reason people don’t trust government. It’s hard to support something that you cannot understand! Thanks for your comments. We do appreciate them.
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.
You get what you pay for.
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 basis of “working hard” rather than accomplishment is likely to be denied. I appreciate your excellent reporting!
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 physical safety in their own lives, showed so little concern, if not contempt, for the needs of the homeless several months ago when, in voting against the Safe Parking Program, they denied the least among us, the neediest, the most basic needs for safety, social services, a place to bathe or shower, and a parking space–a parking space for crying out loud–at the Nazarene church. The homeless! Which also includes families, living out of their cars. But these supervisors feel no qualms about accepting a significant jump in pay because, as Matt Kingsley put it, “We work really hard.”
So, the question is really, just how much money do you supervisors need to feel “fairly compensated” for all that “hard work” that Kingsley claims you are all doing? Isn’t serving as an elected official supposed to be a “civic duty” answering a call to public service? How about stock options? Would that help?
What these supervisors need is a crash course in ethics and morality. Whatever their religious beliefs, if they involve the teaching of Christ, have obviously failed. By all means, take care of yourselves first. Instead of taking care of the poor and the least among us first, they’ve chosen to pad their bank accounts.
We know Inyo County cannot afford to give away money. We cannot give money away like this. Hard work? Qualifications? Explain.
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.
It depends David, do you “work hard”?
It’s odd how it’s not a conflict of interest to vote for their own salaries. Should be up to the voters.
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 struggling & laugh in our faces while you give yourselves this insane raise! Well enjoy it now because you won’t be in office long!
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!!!
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.
Of course they did! True politicians they have become!
Yeah after putting up that ugly $25 million county office building for us all see they sure deserve a raise.
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…