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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Our View: Learning to survive ... Techtoberfest event was a rousing success ... Jeffrey Gillespie: Hillary Clinton’s big night ... Our View: Learning to survive ... Techtoberfest event was a rousing success ... Jeffrey Gillespie: Hillary Clinton’s big night ... OUR VIEW Our View: Raises raise eyebrows Comment DailyTidings.com Writer Posted Apr. 22, 2015 at 12:01 AM Posted Apr. 22, 2015 at 12:01 AM » Social News Jackson County commissioners and their fellow elected officials deserve to be fairly compensated. But it can be difficult to support raises beyond the cost of living for public employees when the private sector is still climbing out of the recession. The county Budget Committee has approved 1.75 percent cost-of-living increases for the commissioners and other elected officials effective July 1, along with base salary increases to take effect Jan. 1, 2016. It is those salary boosts that are troublesome, not because the officials aren't doing a good job but because the raises create the perception of a government out of touch with the governed. Under the salary schedule the committee approved last week, elected officials would receive raises totaling 6.8 percent. That's not an outrageous amount, but it's well in excess of the slowly rising cost of living. Commissioners Rick Dyer and Colleen Roberts, who took office in January, are eligible to see their pay go from $88,858 to $94,952. Newly elected Sheriff Corey Falls' salary will increase by more than $7,500. It should be acknowledged that Roberts, who campaigned on a promise to take less money, says she will accept only $68,432 — what the commissioners made before the 2008 increases were adopted. We understand that not awarding the raises wouldn't make much of a difference in a budget of more than $70 million. But it's puzzling to voters when officials who just got elected are handed handsome raises before they've been on the job more than a few months. DailyTidings.com Writer Posted Apr. 22, 2015 at 12:01 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with DailyTidings.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Alerts Email alerts RSS feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. DailyTidings.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501