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About Polk County itemizer observer. (Dallas, Or) 1992-current | View Entire Issue (May 27, 2015)
Polk County Itemizer-Observer • May 27, 2015 3A Polk County News Commissioners say no thanks to pay raises DEADLINES NEWS DEADLINES For inclusion in the Wednesday edition of the Itemizer-Observer: Social news (weddings, engagements, anniver- saries, births, milestones) — 5 p.m. on Thursday. Community events — Noon on Friday for both the Community Notebook and Community Calendar. Letters to the editor — 10 a.m. on Monday. Obituaries — 4 p.m. on Monday. ADVERTISING DEADLINES Retail display ads — 3 p.m. Friday. Classified display ads — 11 a.m. on Monday. Classified line ads — Noon on Monday. Classified ads are updated daily on www.polkio.com. Public notices — Noon on Friday. CORRECTIONS The Polk County Itemizer- Observer is committed to publishing accurate news, feature and sports reports. If you see anything that re- quires a correction or clarifi- cation, call the newsroom at 503-623-2373 or send an e- mail to nadams@polkio.com. WEBSITE The Polk County Itemizer- Observer website, www.polkio.com, is updat- ed each week by Wednes- day afternoon. There, you will find nearly every story that appears in the print version of the newspaper, as well as some items, in- cluding additional photos, that do not appear in print due to space limitations. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter. WEATHER RECORDED HIGH LOW May 19.............. 65 May 20.............. 69 May 21.............. 74 May 22.............. 63 May 23.............. 64 May 24.............. 69 May 25.............. 72 RAIN 54 56 56 54 53 52 50 .00 .T .04 .03 .T .00 .00 Rainfall during May — 0.68 in. Rain through May 25 — 14.64 in. After safety levy passes, committee agrees to increases for clerk, treasurer and assessor By Jolene Guzman The Itemizer-Observer POLK COUNTY — Three Polk County elected officials will receive raises in fiscal year 2015-16, while others, including all three Polk County Commissioners, will not see an increase in pay. The county’s budget com- mittee made the decision on May 20, along with offering formal approval of the 2015- 16 budget. Those receiving raises are the Polk County clerk (6 per- cent), assessor (2.5 percent), and treasurer (6 percent). Pay raises were not ap- proved for Polk County Sheriff Bob Wolfe and the Board of Commissioners, though Wolfe may see an in- crease based on a state law that requires him to be the highest paid employee in his office. Also, Polk County District Attorney Aaron Felton, who is paid by the state, will not receive a salary supplement from the county. The salary increases were voted on after County Ad- ministrator Greg Hansen outlined how Polk’s elected officials’ pay compared to that of those in surround- ing or simi- larly sized counties in the current fiscal year. Polk’s clerk Hansen and treas- urer were inching close to being 19 percent behind their peers in other coun- ties — which include Ben- ton, Lincoln, Linn, Tillam- ook and Yamhill — while the assessor was behind about 11 percent. The commissioners lag about 16 percent behind, and the sheriff about 4 percent. Hansen offered a couple of options to close the gap for elected officials: a one- time fix that would have in- creased the clerk, treasurer and commissioners by 8 percent, sheriff 4 percent, and assessor 5 percent; or a three-year transition in- creasing all by 3 percent an- nually. In neither scenario did the DA receive a supple- ment. Hansen said the county’s goal is to stay within 4 per- cent in either direction of the five-county average. “I’ve stated many times in my memos that I believe our elected officials are second to none,” Hansen said. “Our e l e c t e d o f f i c i a l s, e v e n though they have a lot of au- tonomy, have always been team players, staying com- mitted to what Polk County has tried to do in providing services to its public.” The compensation com- mittee — which consists of the three citizen members of the budget committee — re- jected both options. Instead, the committee put forward a proposal to give the clerk and the treasurer a 6 percent boost and the rest 2.5 per- cent. “We have to do some- thing,” said Vern Wells, a compensa- tion com- m i t t e e m e m b e r, offering that all elected offi- cial receive a 4 percent Pope increase. “I think it’s something we can justify to voters.” Fellow compensation committee member Norbert Hartmann disagreed. “I would agree that we need to do something for the clerk and the treasurer because of how far down they are relative to their counterparts,” he said, not- ing a “perception problem” with giving elected officials sizeable raises less than 24 hours after the county passed a public safety levy. “I’m just saying look at the ones that are really out of line, get them closer in line and let’s not go overboard on something we are going to regret down the line,” Hartmann said. The full budget commit- tee — which includes the three commissioners — al- tered that proposal, decid- ing to help those who had fallen behind the most, with the exception of the com- missioners. “I’m not interested in a raise,” Commissioner Craig Pope said. “Thank you, but I would prefer that doesn’t happen. I’m not interested in giving raises to the deci- sion makers and, really, to the beneficiaries of these levy dollars (public safety departments). We first have to solve this problem of rein- vesting in public safety.” The committee voted 5-1 for the final proposal, with Wells voting no. Levy: 37 percent say yes to public safety tax Continued from 1A By the end of the fiscal year, about $160,000 will be spent on overtime in the jail as staffing levels have de- clined. Polk County Board of Commissioners Chairman Mike Ainsworth said more staff in the jail, 24-hour pa- trol, and the county’s drug team, POINT, are among the critical services the levy will restore. Ainsworth is thankful for the work of the political ac- tion committee supporting the levy — and for the voters who marked yes on their ballots. “Nobody likes to pay more taxes, but sometimes you have to pay for those services,” he said. “I have sympathy for those who voted no, but I think the county is going to be much safer.” Music from the Redgate Winery & Fieldhouse Measure 27-117 Co u n t y w i d e vo t e tally: Yes: 9,059 (56 per- cent) No: 7,013 (44 per- cent). Voter turnout: 37 percent. Thanks to an extension of the Secure Rural Schools program payments (aka fed- eral timber payments) the cost to taxpayers will be temporarily reduced. County Administrator Greg Hansen said during May 20’s budget committee that the county is anticipat- ing a payment in June of about $750,000. The county also should receive a second payment, which would lower the tax rate in 2016-17. “That would require us to modify our levy from 45 cents per $1,000 (of assessed value) down to (between 30 and 31 cents per $1,000),” Hansen said. The budget committee approved that tax rate for the levy in approving the county’s 2015-16 budget. Hansen noted it’s possible to receive both of the pay- ments this June, which means further adjustments would need to be made. The commissioners could make those changes when it adopts the budget next month. The rates set by the budg- et committee are caps, meaning the board couldn’t legally raise them, but it could lower the levy rate if necessary. Like Ainsworth, Felton ac- knowledged that even the lower tax could be a sacrifice for some taxpayers. “I will work twice as hard to honor that,” he said. Monmouth~Independence Rotary Club STRAWBERRY SALE From the same club that has been doing this for over 25 years. 30 lb. containers of fresh locally grown strawberries $ 48 Yummy, stemmed,washed, sliced, ready to eat, freeze or cook. DEADLINE TO ORDER JUNE 1 PICKUP: INDEPENDENCE, DALLAS, or CORVALLIS To place your order email: strawberry@mirotaryclub.org or call: 503-838-6687 www.mirotaryclub.org Please leave your phone or email. We will notify you when they’re ready. TO BENEFIT ROTARY YOUTH PROGRAMS Fri. May 29, 6-9 PM featuring Ellen Whyte with Orvil Ivie & Garry Meziere $5.00 cover • Must be 21 Food Available Tasting fees & glasses of wine $5.00 8175 Buena Vista Road Independence • 503-428-7115 • www.redgatevineyard.com 2015 Relay for Life of Polk County Not A Runner? Neither Are We! Furniture Upholstery All types: for homes, offices, equip- ment. Also, repairs, RV cushions, slipcovers, High Quality since 1966 Stephen Winters Sewing 503-838-4999 or 503-375-9266 Emmy Joseph 440 E. St • Independence, OR 97351 Serving Polk County 16yrs www.polkio.com www.winterssewing.com Pencil us in! RECYCLE A little effort. A big difference. www.polkio.com I recently asked a local business owner, who donated a gift to our survivor dinner, if she’d ever been to Relay. She didn’t think she could come since she’s not a runner, not on a team, and had not raised money. She had no idea Relay is a community event, free and open to the public - and NOT a run! You’re all invited to come join us as we Celebrate our survivors, Remember loved ones we’ve lost, and Fight Back in a big way against this enemy we call can- cer. SEE YOU AT RELAY FOR LIFE! SEE YOU AT RELAY! Please join us in thanking our three most recent sponsors, along with the following businesses, health care profes- sionals, families, and organizations for their commitment to Relay For Life and its mission to find a cure: Team Perrydale • Dallas Fire Dept. • Huggins Ins. • West Valley Hospital • West Valley Physicians & Surgeons Clinic/Dr. John Hadley • West Valley Surgical Specialty Clinic/Dr. Alison Smith • Monmouth Medical Center/Dr. Charles Essex • Polk County Itemizer-Observer • The Majestic • Rabbit’s • Bollman Funeral Home • Dallas Retirement Village • Dutch Bros. Coffee • Eola Hills Wine Cellars • First Community Credit Union • Hancock Forest Management • South View Medical Arts • James W. Fowler Co. • OREPAC Building Products • Bookey Strong • Dallas Aquatic Center • Dallas Rotary Club • Les Schwab Tire Centers of Dallas, West Salem, & Independence • Mitch Ratzlaff State Farm • NW Natural • Partnerships In Community Living, Inc. • Polk County Association of Realtors • Siletz Trucking Company • Royal Flush Relay For Life 2015 • Salem Sand Club will take place • Western Days May 30-31, • American Outdoors 10am to 10am • Central Lions Club at LaCreole • Dallas Family Medicine Middle School • Dallas Glass & Window in Dallas • Dallas School District • Elkay Manufacturing • H & R Block of Dallas & Monmouth • Limeberry Frozen Yogurt • Michelle Hasbrook, DDS • Monmouth-Independence Rotary • Polk County Fairgrounds & Event Center • R & J Mobility Services • Republic Services • Van Well Building Supply • Washington Street Steakhouse & Pub • White’s Collision Service • Woolsey Family Dental
