The Marion County Commission will consider proposed salary raises for the county’s elected officials at its regular meeting on Wednesday.
The three commissioners will vote to approve the proposed salary bumps, although the Marion County Budget Committee will be the ultimate decider. The commissioners and three citizens serve on the budget committee.
The raises come from the 2019 Compensation Board, whose three members were appointed in January. None of the members work for Marion County.
County spokeswoman Jolene Kelley said the raises factored in how the positions were paid compared to peers in Clackamas, Deschutes, Jackson and Lane counties, as well as how the pay fits in with budgets.
The figures showed Marion County’s assessor, county clerk and three commissioners were relatively underpaid compared to the field, and the board proposed a roughly 2 percent pay increase.
If approved, the biggest raise will go to District Attorney Paige Clarkson, whose pay will increase 25 percent, from $34,720 per year to $43,420. That income is additional to the roughly $120,000 she earns from the state of Oregon.
Many district attorneys are paid a supplement by the counties in which they work, but not all, said Tim Colahan, executive director of Oregon District Attorney’s Association.
If approved, the district attorney’s total compensation would be about $173,000 a year, including retirement benefits. That is reportedly less than Clackamas and Lane counties’ district attorneys, whose annual compensation is $183,000 and $180,000, respectively. Both receive supplements from their counties, according to the figures.
Under the proposed raises, commissioners would make about $99,225 per year in pay, or $114,864 per year when accounting for retirement benefits.
Meanwhile, data showed some officials — the sheriff, justice of the peace and treasurer — will not receive raises beyond a 2 percent cost-of-living adjustment.
To see a complete break-out of how the officials’ compensation could rise, read the agenda item here.
Meeting details: Wednesday, May 8 at 9 a.m. at the Senator Hearing Room, 555 Court Street N.E., Salem.
Commission members: Kevin Cameron, Sam Brentano and Colm Willis.
Have a tip? Contact reporter Troy Brynelson at 503-575-9930, [email protected] or @TroyWB.
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