By PETER HUSSMANN
Jasper County's elected officials were nearly unanimous in asking that the county compensation board again recommend they receive no salary increases in the coming fiscal year due to the current poor state of the local economic climate.
The annual compensation board meeting has been set for 6 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 17, in the Jasper County Supervisors' board room. Each year the seven-member committee meets to make recommendations on salary increases for each of the county elected officials. Those recommendations, by law, can be approved as stated or reduced by the board of supervisors as part of the fiscal year budgeting process, but cannot be increased above the recommendations made.
In documents attached to the agenda calling for the meeting, all the county's elected officials, save Jasper County Sheriff Mike Balmer, provided letters to their representatives on the compensation board stating their preference not to receive pay raises for the second consecutive year.
"Again this year a large part of our community is suffering from a bad economy and circumstances beyond their control," Jasper County Auditor Dennis Parrot wrote. "As elected officials, we must do our part in making sure that county government is run responsibly and efficiently. So, for the second year in a row I am requesting that the compensation board recommend a zero percent increase for the auditor for the upcoming fiscal year."
The three members of the Jasper County Board of Supervisors also requested that no increases be recommended to them for their ultimate decision.
"The board of supervisors would like to express our gratitude for the work that you do and guidance that you give the supervisors pertaining to county elected officials' salaries," the three-member board wrote. "We take very seriously the time, effort and thought that you put into your recommendations and make every effort to follow your lead in this matter, if at all possible.
"We also know that these economic times require us to be even more vigilant in doing the best that we can to manage the county's finances. These times call for all of us to be more creative yet prudent in how we do business and how we handle our budgets. Therefore, the supervisors are asking that the compensation board hold the line on recommending a salary increase for the board of supervisors. We ask that there be no increase in salary for the supervisors."
In requesting that his salary not be increased, Jasper County Attorney Mike Jacobsen did so even noting that the position was transitioned to full-time following the death of his predecessor, Steve Johnson.
"This past year has been one of change in the Jasper County Attorney's Office," Jacobsen wrote. "As you know, I was appointed county attorney in March to succeed Steve Johnson after his untimely passing. In addition to my appointment as county attorney, the character of the office has changed with the board of supervisors making the office a full-time position, with no outside employment. For the prior 14 years, Steve Johnson maintained a limited private practice, as well as served as the Jasper County Attorney. The salary for the Jasper County Attorney's Office remained the same even with the office becoming full-time. In respect for all citizens who have been affected by this recession, I would respectfully request that the members of the compensation board recommend no salary increase for the Office of the Jasper County Attorney for fiscal year 2010-2011."
Current salaries for the county elected officials are:
Jasper County Auditor Dennis Parrott - $59,740
Jasper County Attorney Mike Jacobsen - $92,700
Jasper County Recorder Nancy Parrott - $59,740
Jasper County Sheriff Mike Balmer - $83,782
Jasper County Board of Supervisors - $41,200*
Jasper County Treasurer Doug Bishop - $59,740
(*The chairman of the board of supervisors historically has been given a $2,000 stipend.)
Compensation board members and their representative offices are John Billingsley (attorney), Dennis Julius (auditor), Norm Van Klompenburg (recorder), Maurice Phillips (supervisors), Richard McKlveen (supervisors), Dean Ward (sheriff) and Barbara Barr (treasurer).
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