HomeMy WebLinkAboutres2015-050WHAT L'UM
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CLEARANCES
Initial
Date
Date Received in Council Office
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Assigned to:
Finance & Admin
Originator:
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Council Agenda
Division Head:
Dept. Head:
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WHATCOM COUNTY
COUNCIL
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Resolution identifying 2016 and 2017 salaries and benefits for elected officials.
ATTACHMENTS:
SEPA review required? ( ) Yes ( X ) NO
Should Clerk schedule a hearing? ( ) Yes ( X ) NO
SEPA review completed? ( ) Yes ( X ) NO
Requested Date:
SUMMARY STATEMENT OR LEGAL NOTICE LANGUAGE. (If this item is an ordinance or requires a public
hearing, you must provide the language for use in the required public notice. Be specific and cite RCW or WCC as appropriate. Be
clear in explaining the intent of the action.)
Resolution identifying 2016 and 2017 salaries and benefits for elected officials.
COMMITTEEACTION.
COUNCIL ACTION.•
11/24/2015: Forwarded to Council for approval
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11/24/2015: Approved Consent 7 -0, Res. 2015 -050
Related County Contract #: Related File Numbers: Ordinance or Resolution Number:
Res. 2015 -050
Please Note: Once adopted and signed, ordinances and resolutions are available for viewing and printing on
the County's website at: www.co.whatcom.wa.us /council.
PROPOSED BY: County Executive
INTRODUCTION DATE: November 24, 2015
RESOLUTION NO. 2015 - 050
A RESOLUTION IN THE MATTER OF IDENTIFYING 2016 AND 2017 SALARIES
AND BENEFITS FOR ELECTED OFFICIALS
WHEREAS, beginning early 2015, the Whatcom County Commission on Salaries for
Elected Officials held several meetings to complete the task of setting Whatcom County elected
officials salaries for the years 2016 and 2017; and
WHEREAS, on April 16, 2015, the Commission submitted an elected official salary
schedule to the county for the years 2016 and 2017 (Exhibit A); and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to provide an historical reference for salaries and benefits for
Whatcom County elected officials;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the Whatcom County Council that the salaries
to be paid to elected officials for the years 2016 and 2017 as established by the Whatcom
County Commission on Salaries for Elected Officials are as follows:
Position
2016
2017
Annual Monthly
Annual
Monthly
Assessor
Auditor
Treasurer
$102,159
$8,513.25
$104,407
$8,700.58
$102,159
$8,513.25
$104,407
$104,407
$8,700.58
$102,159
$8,513.25
$8,700.58
Sheriff
Prosecuting Attorney
$132,000
$11,000.00
$134,904
$11,242.00
$162,618
$13,551.50
$165,870
$13,822.50
County Executive
$155,404
$12,950.33
$158,823
$13,235.25
County Council
$30,000
$2,500.00
$30,660
$2,555.00
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that for the Executive Branch Elected Officials (County
Executive, Prosecuting Attorney, Sheriff, Assessor, Auditor, and Treasurer), who were on the
County payroll as of September 14, 2008, 5% of base salary provided will be mandatorily paid by
the County to his or her Retirement Health Savings (RHS) account with the remaining 95% of
base salary paid through payroll.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that any elected official who meets eligibility criteria will be
eligible for Health and Welfare Benefits as outlined in the Unrepresented Resolution for the
applicable year.
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that changes to elected officials salaries under this resolution
shall become effective the first pay periods of January of 2016 and January of 2017 respectively
as noted herein and shall remain in effect until rescinded or amended by the Whatcom County
Commission on Salaries for Elected Officials.
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that the other terms set forth in this resolution shall become
effective as of January 1, 2016. Changes to items other than salary may be made as approved
by the County Council.
APPROVED on this 24th day of November, 2015
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Dana Brown- Davi�;, Council Clerk
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APPROVED as to form:
Chief Civil Deputy Prosecuting Attorney
WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON
Carl Weimer, Council Chairperson
EXHIBITA
To: Whatcom County Council
From: Whatcom County Commission on Salaries for Elected Official
Subject: Elected Official Salary Schedule for 2016 and 2017 COL
Date: April 16, 2015
Starting in January 2015, the Whatcom County Commission on Salaries for Elected
Officials has met multiple times in order to complete its task of setting the 2016 and
2017 salaries for elected officials.
The Commission has used information from comparable jurisdictions, considered the
unique challenges of some of our local offices, and considered written and oral
testimony from elected officials and the general public. Members of the Commission
have actively participated in the process and shared their unique perspective in the
discussions that led to the Commission's salary placements.
Attached please find the Salary Commission's salary placements for Whatcom County
elected officials for 2016 and 2017. These salary placements are forwarded to the
Council with a unanimous vote from the nine remaining members of the Commission.
Commission member Jesse Berg moved out of District 3 and resigned from the
Commission.
It has been honor to be selected and serve on the Salary Commission for Whatcom
County. {N
Allan Je nn, Vommission Chairman
(Organize or)
Br Lydiard -/Business
.ter'
Mike Arbiter - District -#2
Robert Carmichael - Legal Profes ion
Y- L-0 Q ra i 4 M O r s 1.9,n 4 TGt
Thom Fischer - District #1
ur, 4 Vai/a -d le- 4 r' s ;� %/z
Peter Schroeder - District #37
G ge Plucinski - District #2 Kara Turner Personnel Management
risti Birkeland - Distri t #1
F
EXHIBITA
Whatcom County Commission on Salaries for Elected Officials
Salary Placements
April 16, 2015
Position
Current
Salary 2015
2016
2017
Assessor
$101,148
• 1% COLA
• 2.2% COLA
• Adjustment: $0
• Adjustment: $0
• Total: $102,159
• Total: $104,407
• 2.2% COLA
Auditor
$101,148
• 1% COLA
• Adjustment: $0
• Adjustment: $0
• Total: $102,159
• Total: $104,407
Treasurer
• 1% COLA
• 2.2% COLA
$101,148
• Adjustment: $0
• Adjustment: $0
• Total: $102,159
• Total: $104,407
Sheriff
$129,060
. 1% COLA
• 2.2% COLA
• Adjustment: $1,649
• Adjustment: $0
• Total: $132,000
• Total: $134,904
Prosecuting
$156,360
January 1st salary, to match
January 1s salary, to match
Attorney
the salary established for
the salary established for
Superior Court Judges as
Superior Court Judges as
set by the State of
set by the State of
Washington
Washington
County
$153,865
• 1% COLA
• 2.2% COLA
Executive
. Adjustment: $0
• Adjustment: $0
• Total: $155,404
• Total: $158,823
County
$24,705
• 1% COLA
• 2.2% COLA
Council
• Adjustment: $5,048
• Adjustment: $0
• Total: $30,000
• Total: $30,660
Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA):
• The Salary Commission used the Consumer Price Index - All Urban Consumers -
West Urban to establish the actual and projected rate of inflation. This is the
same index used by the previous Salary Commission. See Attachment A.
• For 2016, the Commission established a 1 % percent COLA for all positions. This
is based upon the 2.3% COLA applied to the elected positions for 2014 and 2015
exceeding the actual rate of inflation (2013 - 1.48% & 2014 - 1.86 %). While the
Commission preliminarily established the 2016 COLA at 0 %, upon reflection it
was changed to 1 %, which more accurately reflects the actual difference.
For 2017, the COLA rate of 2.2% is established.
Page 1 of 3
EXHIBITA
Assessor, Auditor, Treasurer: The Commission researched the compensation for
these positions at other Washington State counties, using the following for benchmarks:
• Assessed Value
• Population
• Number of Employees
• Budget
In each benchmark category, the Counties that were four larger and four smaller than
Whatcom County were used for comparison. In all cases, positions are currently above
market comparables. See Attachment B.
Based on those comparisons, the Commission concludes no adjustment for these
positions is necessary, except for projected inflation.
Sheriff: The Commission researched the compensation for this position at other
Washington State counties, using the following for benchmarks:
• Assessed Value
• Population
• Number of Employees
• Budget
In each benchmark category, the Counties that were four larger and four smaller than
Whatcom County were used for comparison. See Attachment B. In addition, because
the City of Bellingham is a large population center within Whatcom County, the
Bellingham Police Chief compensation and duties were used as a comparable.
Because duties for sheriffs vary somewhat by county, the specific scope of duties for
the Whatcom County Sheriff was then weighed. Considering the Whatcom County
Sheriff's scope of duties also includes managing the county jail and that Whatcom
County abuts an international border, as well as the comparison to the City of
Bellingham Police Chief, the Commission determined a salary adjustment for 2016 is
warranted, as reflected in the table.
Prosecuting Attorney: Other county salary commissions and the state salary
commission tie Prosecuting Attorney compensation to Superior Court Judge
compensation. That model of compensation was persuasive to the Commission. Thus:
Effective every January 1st, the salary paid to the Prosecuting Attorney shall be
equal to the January 1st salary paid to Superior Court Judges, including
adjustments thereto, as determined by the Washington Citizens' Commission on
Salaries for Elected Officials under Article XXV111 of the Washington Constitution
and Chapter 43.03 RCW.
County Executive: Whatcom County's management structure (County Executive and
seven County Council members) is somewhat unique. Therefore, the County Executive
position was compared to other governmental executives within Whatcom County, as
well as three other Washington counties with similar Executive /Council forms of
government. Based on those comparisons and taking into account the size of the other
Page 2 of 3
EXHIBITA
comparable counties, the Commission determines no adjustment is necessary except
for projected inflation.
County Council: Whatcom County's management structure (County Executive and
seven County Council members) is somewhat unique.
The County Council is the legislative body for Whatcom County. The Council members
have broad areas of responsibilities requiring significant knowledge and research, make
impactful decisions affecting all citizens of Whatcom County, and have an ambitious
meeting schedule requiring a significant time commitment. While the position has
historically been considered part-time, it is apparent the duties require more than 20
hours per week on average and sometimes significantly more.
Based on the criticality of the County Council duties and reflecting the expanding time
commitment necessary to appropriately carry out their duties, the Commission
determines a salary adjustment for 2016 is warranted, as reflected in the table.
Page 3 of 3
EXHIBITA
ATTACHMENT A
Consumer Price Index - All Urban Consumers
Year Annual
2002
184.7
2003
188.6 2.11%
2004
193.0 2.33%
2005
198.9
3.06%
2006
205.7
3.42%
2007
212.230
3.17%
2008
219.646
3.49%
2009
218.822
-0.38%
2010
221.203
1.09%
2011
227.485
2.84%
2012
232.376
2.15%
2013
235.824
1.48%
2014
240.215
1.86%
2005 -2014 2.22% 10 -year avg
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