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P/SUNNY Temp: 68 °F Wind: E at 5 mph Friday, May 2, 2003 SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA HomeLife Magazine W3 Magazine Jobs @ Mail Tribune Tempo A & E Oregon CarZone Wellness Connection Real Estate Newspaper in Education Prime Times Outdoor Journal Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find Everything E SOUTHERN OREGON Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar ABOUT US FAQ What's New Advertise Home Delivery Classified Ad Contact Us Media Kit Email Story to a Friend April 23, 2003 County pay freeze favored By MEG LANDERS Mail Tribune For the county’s elected officials, the buck stops here. A committee charged with reviewing officials’ pay voted Tuesday to recommend freezing the salaries for Jackson County’s elected leaders. "Politically and strategically, your message might be much greater to the public to take no raise this year," said committee member Tim Alford during the salary meeting Tuesday. "It’s a gesture. It’s a demonstration of solidarity." Alford and fellow budget members Deborah Martin and Dick Rudisile make up the elected officials budget committee. They voted unanimously for no increase despite County Administrator Sue Slack’s recommendation for a 1.98 percent cost of living increase. County Clerk Kathy Beckett said the recommendation did not surprise her, in fact, many of the elected officials recently met and supported the idea of a salary freeze for themselves. "I think in these economic times, we need to save every penny we can," she said. District Attorney Mark Huddleston agreed. "I think it’s appropriate given the state of the county budget," he said. The suggested 1.98 percent raise would have meant as little as $336 for Huddleston, who receives the majority of his salary, $76,428, from the state, or as much as $1,593 for Sheriff Mike Winters. In 2002, increases ranged from 1 to 7 percent. This year the committee agreed that not only was a big increase out of line, but the 1.98 cost of living increase was also not appropriate. "I thought that was the very least we could do," said County Commissioner Sue Kupillas. She said the difference in the amount was not a lot, but it was an important symbolic decision. Kupillas said she had indicated to Rudisile prior to the meeting that she supported a salary freeze. The committee also voted to recommend to the budget committee that Commissioner Dave Gilmour’s salary be reduced from $62,000 to $40,000, as he requested. The commissioner has a medical practice in Central Point and said during the campaign that he would reduce his salary because he cannot work full time as a commissioner. The final decision on salaries will be made following this week’s budget hearings. Slack said the salary committee will make its recommendations to the full Budget Committee Thursday. Among the budgets to be reviewed Thursday in the Courthouse Auditorium are the Sheriff’s Department at 8:30 a.m., the library at 9:45 a.m. and the Southern Oregon Historical Society at 10:30 a.m. Reach reporter Meg Landers at 776-4481 or e-mail [email protected] . Printer Friendly Version Email Story to a Friend Subscribe Archive: Click to Search Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2003 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback A D V E R T I S E R S