Last week, three of our elected officials in Green County got raises - two of them will get raises of more than 10 percent.
It makes us wonder if the county board is truly that out of touch with the working citizens they represent.
The board unanimously approved these raises - ranging from a 2.7-percent increase for county clerk to a 10.6-percent increase for both treasurer and register of deeds. That will put their salaries at $62,000 for county clerk and $57,800 for treasurer and register of deeds beginning in 2013.
County clerk Mike Doyle said the raises are in line with averages from other Wisconsin counties, taking into account the difference in benefits packages offered. County board chairman Art Carter said the increased salaries are fair compensation for the level of responsibility that these positions carry, and will encourage good people to run for the offices.
"We're asking quite a bit of these folks," he told the county board.
That may well be true. We understand public workers are being expected to do more with less. So are workers in the private sector.
It's called the new reality.
And while we understand the desire to make these salaries competitive to attract highly-qualified candidates, the reality is elections too often become a popularity face-off. There's no guarantee the individuals ultimately elected to hold these offices will be the most qualified.
There are signs that, at least on a national level, the economy is improving. We're optimistic we've turned the corner. But growth is still slow, and we're not convinced better economic fortunes have yet arrived in Green County. These raises - particularly raises of more than 10 percent - are a slap in the face of each Green County taxpayer who continues to struggle with constricted household budgets.
Meanwhile, down at City Hall, Monroe's Common Council is slated to take up a measure tonight that's also hard to swallow: Based on the recommendation of the Salary and Personnel Committee last week, the council is scheduled to vote on approving bonuses for nine department heads.
There are some significant differences between the city's proposed bonuses and the raises the county granted. First, these are one-time bonuses, not an actual increase in ongoing salaries. Secondly, the actual dollar amount is relatively small. The bonuses will be 2 percent of salaries, with the highest going to any individual being almost $1,400. If approved, the city will spend a total of $11,500 on the bonuses.
Alderman Charles Koch proposed the bonuses as a way to reward department heads for their hard work and for coming in under budget. Mr. Koch's savvy enough to acknowledge his proposal may not be "politically popular," but noted "sometimes you have to do what's right."
We understand Mr. Koch's desire to reward long-time department heads. Some of these positions (for example, police chief and engineering supervisor) require specialized training and this plan, on the surface, is a relatively inexpensive way to show appreciation in light of three years without pay increases for these individuals.
Still, we can't buy the justification that the city came in under budget. The city caught a lucky break this year by saving money on snow removal, a fact attributed to Mother Nature and not the work of department heads. Furthermore, if the city came in under budget, it raises the question of how realistic the budget was to begin with - was it a true reflection of anticipated operating costs or was there some extra padding in there?
The city is already aware that pay may be an issue in employee retention in some of its top spots and has initiated a review of these salaries. We're curious to hear what the city will find out as it examines how its salaries rate against communities with similar demographics. If a serious review shows a pay discrepancy, the council would be wise to address it.
Until that time, the city of Monroe should also hold off on the bonuses - however well intended they may be.
It makes us wonder if the county board is truly that out of touch with the working citizens they represent.
The board unanimously approved these raises - ranging from a 2.7-percent increase for county clerk to a 10.6-percent increase for both treasurer and register of deeds. That will put their salaries at $62,000 for county clerk and $57,800 for treasurer and register of deeds beginning in 2013.
County clerk Mike Doyle said the raises are in line with averages from other Wisconsin counties, taking into account the difference in benefits packages offered. County board chairman Art Carter said the increased salaries are fair compensation for the level of responsibility that these positions carry, and will encourage good people to run for the offices.
"We're asking quite a bit of these folks," he told the county board.
That may well be true. We understand public workers are being expected to do more with less. So are workers in the private sector.
It's called the new reality.
And while we understand the desire to make these salaries competitive to attract highly-qualified candidates, the reality is elections too often become a popularity face-off. There's no guarantee the individuals ultimately elected to hold these offices will be the most qualified.
There are signs that, at least on a national level, the economy is improving. We're optimistic we've turned the corner. But growth is still slow, and we're not convinced better economic fortunes have yet arrived in Green County. These raises - particularly raises of more than 10 percent - are a slap in the face of each Green County taxpayer who continues to struggle with constricted household budgets.
Meanwhile, down at City Hall, Monroe's Common Council is slated to take up a measure tonight that's also hard to swallow: Based on the recommendation of the Salary and Personnel Committee last week, the council is scheduled to vote on approving bonuses for nine department heads.
There are some significant differences between the city's proposed bonuses and the raises the county granted. First, these are one-time bonuses, not an actual increase in ongoing salaries. Secondly, the actual dollar amount is relatively small. The bonuses will be 2 percent of salaries, with the highest going to any individual being almost $1,400. If approved, the city will spend a total of $11,500 on the bonuses.
Alderman Charles Koch proposed the bonuses as a way to reward department heads for their hard work and for coming in under budget. Mr. Koch's savvy enough to acknowledge his proposal may not be "politically popular," but noted "sometimes you have to do what's right."
We understand Mr. Koch's desire to reward long-time department heads. Some of these positions (for example, police chief and engineering supervisor) require specialized training and this plan, on the surface, is a relatively inexpensive way to show appreciation in light of three years without pay increases for these individuals.
Still, we can't buy the justification that the city came in under budget. The city caught a lucky break this year by saving money on snow removal, a fact attributed to Mother Nature and not the work of department heads. Furthermore, if the city came in under budget, it raises the question of how realistic the budget was to begin with - was it a true reflection of anticipated operating costs or was there some extra padding in there?
The city is already aware that pay may be an issue in employee retention in some of its top spots and has initiated a review of these salaries. We're curious to hear what the city will find out as it examines how its salaries rate against communities with similar demographics. If a serious review shows a pay discrepancy, the council would be wise to address it.
Until that time, the city of Monroe should also hold off on the bonuses - however well intended they may be.
