Clallam commissioners mull update to raises timeline

No increases planned; move matches state changes tied to judges

PORT ANGELES — Clallam County commissioners will update a resolution establishing salaries and benefits for elected officials to improve the administration of annual raises.

Commissioners Monday discussed revisions that would incorporate a new timeline for state-approved salary adjustments for Superior Court judges.

No raises or pay cuts are being proposed.

“It’s just a timeline change,” Clallam County Civil Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Elizabeth Stanley said.

Salaries for the county’s elected officials are based on a percentage of a Superior Court judge’s salary, which is set by the state.

The state also pays 50 percent of Prosecuting Attorney Mark Nichols’ salary.

“The amount the state was contributing to his salary goes up whenever the judges’ salaries go up, and that changes,” Stanley told the three commissioners in a Monday work session.

“It had historically been September. This year they switched it to July.”

Nichols is owed back pay from July as a result of the change in the state schedule, Stanley said.

“This [resolution] is just fixing the issue going forward,” Stanley said.

The three commissioners are expected to approve the amended resolution next Tuesday.

“This looks appropriate to me,” Board Chairman Mark Ozias told Stanley.

A Clallam County Superior Court judge earns $190,984 per year, County Administrator Rich Sill said in a Tuesday interview.

Nichols earns 89 percent of a judge’s salary, or $169,976, half of which is paid by the state.

Clallam County Sheriff Bill Benedict earns $137,508 per year, or 72 percent of a Superior Court judge’s salary.

The county assessor, auditor, community development director, treasurer and commissioners each earn 50 percent of a Superior Court judge’s salary, or $95,492, according to the proposed resolution.

“If the salaries of Superior Court Judges are increased during a calendar year, the salaries of the Assessor, Auditor, County Commissioners, Director of the Department of Community Development, the Sheriff and the Treasurer shall be adjusted on Jan. 1 of the following year,” the resolution states.

“If the salaries of the Superior Court Judges are increased during a calendar year, the salary of the Prosecutor shall be adjusted on the same schedule as the Superior Court judges.”

Clallam County’s elected officials receive the same benefits as members of a union bargaining unit and a 2 percent contribution to a retirement plan.

________

Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 56450, or at rollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.

More in News

Randy Nobbs of Sequim attempts to get a kite to take flight on Wednesday at Carrie Blake Park in Sequim. A line of sheltering trees made it difficult to launch the kite until he received help from family members to get the aerial glider above the tree line and into the breeze. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
Taking flight

Randy Nobbs of Sequim attempts to get a kite to take flight… Continue reading

Council hopefuls share vision

Candidates for Port Angeles office debate at forum

Reforecasting budget helps Port Angeles port, staff says

Agency highlights sources of grant funding for capital projects

Two men rescued in separate search operations

Two people were rescued in separate operations in the… Continue reading

Jefferson County Preparedness Day slated Saturday

The Production Alliance will present Jefferson County Preparedness Day from… Continue reading

Old Elwha River bridge to be removed starting July 15

The state Department of Transportation plans to remove the… Continue reading

Work begins on signals in Port Angeles

Contractors for the city of Port Angeles will begin… Continue reading

Peninsula College nursing students, from left, Emily Haddock of Lewiston, Idaho, Jordan Hegtvedt of Sequim and Chaela Cashman of Port Angeles adjust each other’s mortar boards in preparation for commencement ceremonies on Saturday on the college’s Port Angeles campus. A total of 328 students were expected to take part in two ceremonies with 530 students eligible for diplomas and certificates for the 2024-25 academic year. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
Graduation prep

Peninsula College nursing students, from left, Emily Haddock of Lewiston, Idaho, Jordan… Continue reading

Next steps outlined in Olympic Medical Center process

CEO: Update on status will be ‘coming soon’

Cooling centers would extend hours, if needed

Summer forecast calls for warmer, smokier conditions, public health specialist says

Elwha River bridge set to be demolished

Clallam commissioners receive road construction updates

Sequim city staff are considering next options for a house and various outbuildings in Gerhardt Park after a recent surplus auction resulted in no bids. (Matthew Nash/Olympic Peninsula News Group)
Sequim considers options for house in park

Public provided no bids during process that ended June 6