Compensation Review Commission
Originally Published: August 20, 2024
Mandatory Leave, Pay Increases Discussed
Members of the Compensation Review Commission met for a third time on August 7th. Board of Education (BOE) member Mary Washington testified to the responsibilities of her role, citing an impressive compilation of duties, statistics, and school programs attended. All told, Washington estimated a BOE member “should work between 30-40 hours per week to fulfill their constitutional responsibilities.” A BOE member is a public official, with a lack of privacy, requiring “us to always conduct ourselves in a manner that brings a positive light” to the school system and county, Washington said. She supported the addition of optional health and life insurance benefits for BOE members. “Education is the foundation of democracy,” Washington stated.
Watch her testimony here: https://www.youtube.com/live/AhMXyIPjKuM...
Chair John Parlett advised that pay increases from four years ago, owed to certain BOE members, have not yet been paid due to a potential misinterpretation of the law. County Attorney Buffy Giddeons is looking into the matter.
Moving on, commission member Jacinta Bottoms-Spencer offered a proposal of mandatory leave for county elected officials; one day for Commissioners, Orphans Court Judges, and BOE members; two days for State’s Attorney, Sheriff, and County Treasurer. Bottoms-Spencer thought leave may be attractive to potential candidates after hearing testimony from current elected officials. Met with opposition from most other board members, the proposal did not move forward.
Parlett offered his own proposal for salary increases, raising Commissioner President pay by $4600, Commissioner pay by $4900, and pay for BOE members and Orphans Court Judges by $2300. These salaries would be effective from 2027-2030. Salaries currently receive an annual increase of 1.5%, but Parlett suggested changing to 2%. There is an additional $150/year available to BOE members and Orphan’s Court Judges for each year of service. Parlett also authored the 2020 Compensation Review Commission proposal.
The plan was met with mixed reactions from other board members. Karl Pence was not in favor of incentivizing officials to serve longer terms because of receiving additional compensation; rather, that amount should be added to the base salary. Larry Crabtree supported Parlett’s proposal as written. Tommy McKay, however, said “you simply can’t make the case that [higher pay] is what creates better elected officials.” McKay believed administrative salaries throughout county government were too high. Jeff Buckler agreed. “If my name was to either willingly or mysteriously find its way onto the 2026 commissioner ballot, the last thing I’d be looking for is the type of compensation I’d be receiving.”
Commission members will reconvene in September to continue the discussion.
