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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Our View: Protect pristine headwaters from nickel mining ... Bumper crop ... Growers and Crafters Market searching for new homes ... Our View: Protect pristine headwaters from nickel mining ... Bumper crop ... Growers and Crafters Market searching for new homes ... OUR VIEW Our View: Raises for Jackson County officials — again Comment MailTribune.com Writer Posted Apr. 22, 2015 at 12:01 AM Posted Apr. 22, 2015 at 12:01 AM » Social News The two new Jackson County commissioners and sheriff must be doing great jobs. They've been in office for less than four months and have already been offered big raises. While those raises are not as large as the staggering increases approved in 2008, they are added evidence that too many public agencies operate in a financial realm unfamiliar to the vast majority of their constituents. The county Budget Committee — made up of three appointed public members and the three commissioners — has approved modest 1.75 percent cost-of-living increases for the commissioners and other elected officials effective July 1, along with not-so-modest base salary increases to take effect Jan. 1, 2016. It is those salary boosts that are troublesome, adding to the perception that government is out of touch with the governed. Under the salary schedule the committee approved last week, the three commissioners 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 climb from $109,158 to $116,606. Two other elected officials — the assessor and surveyor — will get increases of more than $5,000, in addition to the cost-of-living bumps. 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. She deserves credit for sticking to her principles and honoring that pledge. The massive 2008 increases came after a salary review committee found the commissioners made less than some department heads and other top managers — whose salaries, by the way, were approved by the commissioners. Operating in a public sector silo, the committee studied other public sector pay levels to determine the raises were justified, while private sector employees and employers could only look on in envy. It's understandable that salaries for hired managers need to be competitive. But elected officials aren't hired on the job market; they choose to run for office knowing what the salary will be. If the compensation were too low, it might be difficult to attract candidates, but that hasn't seemed to be a problem. We understand that public officials deserve to be fairly paid for the work they do. But it has to be surprising to voters when newly elected officials are handed handsome raises before they've been on the job more than a few months. Then again, maybe it's not so surprising, given that it seems to happen so regularly. MailTribune.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 MailTribune.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 Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked 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. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501