Township officials get no raises this year, despite a request from Supervisor Dave Wagner.
‘As elected officials, we are all very concerned with the appearance of giving ourselves raises,” Wagner stated in a memo to the board, Dec. 2. “Unfortunately, there is no other way out of this.?
Wagner recommended a two-percent increase for all elected positions and their deputies, based on a 5.8-percent inflation this year and a salary freeze last year.
However, officials did receive a three-percent pay increase recommended by Wagner in his February, 1, 2008 memo. It was approved 6-1 by the board. In a Dec. 8 interview, Wagner admitted he forgot.
‘I didn’t think we did,? he said ‘I thought the board had only received a one percent increase, which was contributed to Blue Cross.?
That increase was approved by the board 4-3, July 17, 2007.
The board voted unanimously to freeze salaries for the township’s three full-time officials, supervisor, clerk, and treasurer.
Trustee David Lohmeier said it was an ‘incredibly bad time? to go forward with a raise.
‘From my perspective, I can’t see justifying taking any kind of increase in this economy,? he said.
‘Given our current situation, we should probably take a wait-and-see attitude and see how the economy improves.?
Trustee Neil Wallace agreed, and did not think using the inflation rate was a ‘sufficient rationale? for a pay raise.
‘I think, given the current economic situation that’s dramatically impacting the people of this community and the likelihood that we’re going to see less tax revenues coming in, any serious consideration of this would be callous,? said Wallace. ‘I would vote against any increase at this time for the elected officials.?
Clerk Shelagh VanderVeen said, ‘I know everyone out there is being asked to do a lot more with a lot less and I don’t think I could in good conscious accept a raise at this time.?
Wagner said pay raises should be passed and each individual could choose whether or not to accept it.
‘If pay raises are never taken, then the officials will never catch up to what the going rate is,? he said. ‘This way, if they put the raise in place, the elected officials don’t have to take it, and if they do, then of course they have to answer to the public.?
Supervisor currently makes $78,248.98, Clerk and Treasurer recieve $69,861.58, and trustees get approx. $4,600 a year
Wagner said trustees earn $5,000-$7,000 less than in communities of comparable size. Clerk and treasurer earn $9,000-$11,000 less, and supervisor earns $5,000-$6,000 less.
‘Three or four years from now, if we have to come up to speed from a study that shows we’re so far behind, how do we come up with a 20 percent increase?? asked Wagner. ‘It just can’t happen.?