CLALLAM: Elected officials say salary adjustments inequitable

Three Clallam County elected officials claim they are being treated unfairly by not getting annual cost-of-living increases.

County Treasurer Ruth Gerdon is spearheading an effort to provide herself, Assessor Linda Owings-Rosenburgh and Auditor Cathy McKeown with the cost-of-living raise amounting to 2 percent per year.

Those officials earn annual salaries of $51,133.

The trio voiced their concern about the cost-of-living increase a day before the county is expected to receive the results of a salary survey.

The survey is expected to recommend salary increases for some county employees while possibly freezing others.

The 10-month survey will be delivered to county commissioners today. However, at least one county commissioner has said he will withhold it from the public until Wednesday after it is distributed to employees.

Gerdon, Owings-Rosenburgh and McKeown are taking a wait-and-see approach to the survey before acting on their concern.

“We haven’t done anything really actively yet,” she said. “But who wouldn’t want a pay raise. We’re just holding off until the pay study.”

This full report appears in today’s Clallam County edition of the Peninsula Daily News. Or click on “Subscribe” at left to order your copy by U.S. mail.

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