YELLOWSTONE COUNTY ELECTED OFFICIAL SALARY COMPENSATION HEARING

Tuesday June 16, 2015

              ALL PRESENT:  County Attorney Scott Twito, Chairman, Commissioner John Ostlund, Commissioner Bill Kennedy, Commissioner Jim Reno, Auditor Debby Hernandez, Sheriff Mike Linder, Clerk and Recorder Jeff Martin, Citizens Ms. Billie Ruff and  Mr. Oscar Heinrich. 

              Mr. Scott Twito noted that this is the second and final meeting of the County Compensation Board.  During the June 2, 2015 meeting it was discussed to examine changes to the JP’s salary structure, dividing the compensation schedules between legal and non-legal elected officials, and a schedule showing an increase in the longevity structure.  Mr. Kevan Bryan, Finance Director went through the three proposed worksheets.  Mr. Bryan stated the worksheets are as follows:  1.)  This worksheet has an increase to the base salary and an increase to the longevity.  2.)  This worksheet contains the salaries for County Attorney Twito and Justices’ of the Peace Hernandez and Carter. County Attorney Twito’s salary is set at the District Court judge salary.  Judge Hernandez and Judge Carter are shown with an increase of 75%, 80%, 85% and 90%.  3.)  This worksheet has an increase to the base salary only.  Ms. Hernandez noted that she liked the idea of separating the legal and non-legal elected officials.  Mr. Martin stated that the decisions made today will impact approximately 53 sheriff’s deputies and 4 County Attorney Deputies.  Commissioner Reno stated that the jail mill levy failed and that sends a message to us that the public was not on board with our priorities.  Commissioner Reno stated giving big raises sends the wrong message to the public.  One option would be to freeze the salaries however that would affect the Sheriff’s Deputies and the Deputy County Attorney’s.  Commissioner Reno stated that a $1.00 raise would send a great message to the public and it would also allow the deputies to have one more year of longevity.  Mr. Heinrich stated that the jail mill levy was not advertised enough.  Mr. Heinrich also stated that the County Elected Officials do work hard and deserve a raise.  Ms. Billie Ruff stated that the jail mill and elected officials compensation are two different things.  Mr. Jeff Martin stated that increasing the Justice of Peace’s salary gradually would be better than doing it all at once.  Mr. Kevan Bryan stated that the budget could handle an increase of 1%, 2% or even 3% at this time.  Mr. Scott Twito noted that the total impact including the 80% adjustment to the justice of the peace salary and a 3% raise including a raise in longevity is $70,606.00.  Mr. Twito discussed the matter of the Treasurer’s additional pay.  Mr. Twito noted that in 2003 resolution 03-65 which provided for the consolidation of the Yellowstone County Assessor’s Office was passed.  Then in 2008 resolution 08-71 which provided for the consolidation of the Yellowstone County Superintendent of Schools was passed.  Resolution 08-71 provided for the elected official’s compensation for the combined office to be increased 10% but that increase was refused by the elected official citing his reluctance to personally perform some of the ministerial functions of the School Superintendent.  The current elected official has performed many of the duties of the School Superintendent in the past and the increase for the combined offices would now appear appropriate.  Mr. Twito also noted that the Montana Department of Revenue has absorbed virtually all of the functions previously performed by the County Assessor and compensation for services no longer performed locally seemed inappropriate.  Mr. Twito stated that it would make sense to remove the 10% pay for the assessor and add the 10% pay to the superintendent of schools.  Mr. Twito also noted that Ms. Long will get an additional $400 a year to comply with state law that authorizes the payment.  Mr. Twito asked for discussion regarding longevity pay.  Ms. Hernandez stated that longevity is a huge portion of the elected official’s salary that has been frozen and that does not happen with any other positions in the county.  Mr. Heinrich asked what the Commissioner opinion was regarding longevity.  Commissioner Reno stated that you add more than 5 to longevity it will compound the problem.  Commissioner Kennedy stated that he had no comments.  Commissioner Ostlund stated that he would struggle increasing the longevity component and he thinks the focus should be more on the base salary.  Ms. Hernandez asked how growth is going to be rectified if longevity stays the same.  Ms. Hernandez also stated that the compensation committee should look at getting rid of the longevity component.  Mr. Martin agreed that would be worth tackling however not this year.  Commissioner Ostlund stated that the longevity component has a lot to do with the Sheriff’s deputies.  Mr. Twito asked for public comments.  One citizen stated that the legislative fiscal review committee used 2.33% for FY16 and 1.71% for FY17 to calculate increases.  Also noted was the fact that there is a conflict of interest with the Sheriff’s salary and the Sheriff’s deputies being tied together.  Ms. Long stated that she just wants to make sure she is complying with the law.  Ms. Hernandez noted that if the longevity was increased by 3% the impact would be approximately $2500.00 total.  Mr. Heinrich made a MOTION to change resolution 03-65 to reflect current responsibilities of the Treasurer and pay the Treasurer and additional $400 which is required by statute and change the percentage to 10% for Superintendent of Schools, Ms. Ruff seconded.  Passed Unanimous.  Commissioner Ostlund made a MOTION to move the Justice of the Peace’s out, eliminating their longevity component, equalizing their salaries and tying their salaries to a percentage of the District Court Judges salaries at the minimum range of 75%, Ms. Ruff seconded.  Mr. Heinrich asked for clarification from Mr. Martin.  Mr. Martin stated that he would not support a $41,000.00 increase for the Justices of the Peace because we are in the middle of MPEA negotiations and Teamster negotiations.  Ms. Hernandez commented that other Department Heads in Yellowstone County average wages are over $100,000 and does that make these positions comparable when they are still $6,000 to $7,000 short.  What are we trying to achieve here.  Mr. Heinrich stated that the Compensation Committee needs to be fiscally responsible.  Mr. Martin stated that a 90% increase is too much at once.  Commissioner Reno made a MOTION to increase longevity the same percentage amount that the base salary is increased, Mr. Heinrich seconded.  Motion passed 8-1.  Commissioner Kennedy opposed the motion.  Commissioner Kennedy made a MOTION to approve a 1% increase to the base salary, Commissioner Reno seconded.  Motion passed 8-1.  Auditor Debby Hernandez opposed the motion.  County Attorney Twito adjourned the meeting at 11:52 a.m.

APPROVE ATTEST

DATE