06/05/2024
Today, Denise Krause, Denise Krause for Jackson County, challenged the Jackson County Commissioners to folllow the will of the voters of Jackson County and lower their yearly salaries to $75,000. She also pushed the commissioners and end the huge step increases system for commissioner’s salaries’ raises. Denise is a candidate for Jackson County Board of Commissioners.
I made a statement on behalf of the voters at the commissioner meeting this morning where they were expected to finalize the 2024/2025 budget. I challenged current commissioners to heed the will of the voters and pressed them to amend the budget, to lower their salaries to $75,000 and to end the unfair step system, which has resulted in a 67% salary increase for the two senior commissioners and allows them to approve their own salary increases every year.
Here is the full statement.
In the recent primary election, we got a clear report from the public. They are not sold on nonpartisan commissioners, and they think three are enough.
The campaign signs told a story the public believed. Two more commissioners would cost A LOT more money. The voters have spoken. We all should listen.
Cut your salaries. Now. The public wants it, and the problems the county faces demand it. It has happened before. In the early 1980s the commissioners cut their own salaries. They probably felt they were well worth the money, but the county had a major budget problem. High interest rates slowed timber harvests and O&C receipts were down. There were going to be personnel cuts and they needed to set an example.
The county has to bring a major spending proposal to the county taxpayers. You need to set an example that shows you understand the shared cost. If I am elected county commissioner in November, I agree to accept the still-generous salary of $75,000 as supported by the voters, for all four years of my term. The Republican candidate in the race has also agreed to accept $75,000. You say that we need to pay the highest salaries in Oregon to get such highly qualified candidates as yourselves. I don’t believe it. More importantly, the public you serve does not believe it. And what does that say about how you feel about city councilors and the many other elected officials who serve for free? Are they not quality people to serve in your minds?
Your job is one of representation of the public. End the step-system that treats your jobs as career positions in which longevity is the test of quality. You are evaluated on how well you represent the public will. The public has spoken. For those who may not know, the step system has allowed you, Rick and Colleen, to enjoy a 67% salary increase (and rising) since you took office.
The voters are paying attention now. You successfully fought down the ballot measures to cling to the partisan divide and deny representation to the people of Jackson County, but you couldn’t get the voters to support sky-high salaries.
Your job is not to manage the county employees, the budget, or create bigger government. You oversee one employee and give your opinion on the budget. Your job is to listen to the taxpayers and represent their interests.
So, listen to the people. They told you what they expect. Voluntarily reduce your salaries to $75,000 per year by amending the budget. The formal action you take today should establish reasonable compensation policy, reflecting the will of taxpaying voters.
