• About Us
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Pickem Terms and Conditions
Wednesday, May 18, 2022
The Platte County Landmark Newspaper
  • Home
  • Local News
  • Opinion
  • Landmark Pickem!
    • Login / Sign-up
    • Results by Week
    • Pickem Rules and Help
  • Landmark Live!
  • Looking Backward
  • es_MXSpanish
  • Home
  • Local News
  • Opinion
  • Landmark Pickem!
    • Login / Sign-up
    • Results by Week
    • Pickem Rules and Help
  • Landmark Live!
  • Looking Backward
  • es_MXSpanish
No Result
View All Result
The Platte County Landmark Newspaper
No Result
View All Result

County officials vote not to increase their salaries

Ivan Foley by Ivan Foley
November 20, 2003
in Platte County
4
SHARES
99
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare via Email

Other than a possible cost of living increase coming after the first of the year, there won’t be a pay raise for Platte County’s elected officials.

That was the decision made at a meeting of the Platte County Salary Commission Tuesday afternoon. The salary commission is comprised of the county’s elected officeholders, and meets every two years to discuss pay rates for themselves.

RelatedNews

Hunters can take advantage of coyote control season

Quilt for an injured cop

Republican women’s group to meet Jan. 27

Members of the salary commission attending the meeting were First District Commissioner Michael Short (chair), Second District Commissioner Steve Wegner, Presiding Commissioner Betty Knight, Sheriff Richard Anderson, Public Administrator Janet Wooddell, Assessor Christine McQuitty, Collector Donna Nash, Treasurer Bonnie Brown, County Clerk Sandy Krohne, Auditor Sandra Thomas, Recorder Ida Cox.

Platte County Prosecutor Eric Zahnd did not attend, as his salary would not have been affected by any action. The prosecutor’s salary is set by state statute to be the same as that of an associate circuit court judge, which right now is $96,000.

Tuesday’s decision will keep the salaries at $60,765 for the county clerk, public administrator, assessor, collector, treasurer, auditor, presiding commissioner, and recorder.

Salaries for the two associate commissioners will remain at $58,765.

Salary for the sheriff follows a state-determined scale and is based on the county’s assessed valuation. The Platte County sheriff’s salary will remain $66,095.

The state legislature establishes a salary scale for county officials, but the counties are not bound to abide by it. Platte County several years ago voted to pay its officials at the top of the salary scale, and in fact is at about 106% of the scale right now after cost of living pay increases have been given to officeholders in recent years.

The existence of a salary commission and its duties came to the public forefront in Platte County back in 1997, when a majority of officeholders voted in favor of a nearly 30% pay increase. A majority of officeholders initially passed a motion taking the raise effective immediately, but later were advised by counsel that it would violate the state constitution to do so.

The constitution does not allow for raises to be given mid-term—any pay increase cannot take effect until another election is held for the affected positions and the succeeding term begins

Tuesday’s meeting was opened by Platte County Circuit Court Clerk Sandra Dowd, per state statute. Dowd is not on the salary commission, as the circuit clerk’s salary is paid by the state.

The group began by re-electing Short as chairman of the salary commission.

Then came a brief report on the finances of the county, a report that must verify that the county is financially solvent. In her report, Auditor Sandra Thomas noted that sales tax collections in the county “remain flat or are down a little bit.”

Thomas speculated that sales tax collections may be flattening out after peaking with the additions of Wal-Mart and Lowes stores in the county.

Collections may have peaked, she noted, “until we get some other stuff (retail stores) in.”

Short explained options to the committee, which ranged from doing nothing to passing a motion which essentially kept things the same, or opening the floor to discussion to either raise or lower the salaries.

Anderson soon made a motion that was unanimously passed to keep the salaries as is.

The county commission is authorized to adjust compensation of county offices effective Jan. 1 of each year as a cost of living adjustment, which shall be in the form of a percentage that shall be the same for all county officers. The officeholders’ cost of living increases shall not exceed the percentage given to county employees.

  

Tags: electionseric zahndplatte countyPublic Safetytaxes
Ivan Foley

Ivan Foley

Ivan Foley, owner/publisher of the Platte County Landmark, has been on the news beat in Kansas City's Northland for 40 years. He provides weekly observations in his Between the Lines column and serves as host of Landmark Live, a light-hearted videocast featuring newsmakers in the Northland.

Related Posts

Budget, wars and tweets

Budget, wars and tweets

by Guy Speckman
May 13, 2022
0

The State of Missouri has passed a fiscal year budget. It nears $47 billion. Last year's budget was $36 billion. The largest budget increase in the history of the State of Missouri. If you still think Republicans are the fiscally...

45 Years Ago–May 13, 1977

by Ivan Foley
May 13, 2022
0

Dr. Carl Myers purchase the Platte Medical Clinic in Platte City this week and plans to open his office here in the near future. Dr. Nourbaksh will continue to be located in the Platte Medical Clinic. Mr. and Mrs. Louis...

30 Years Ago–May 15, 1992

by Ivan Foley
May 13, 2022
0

Bob Foster, vice principal of Fort Osage Junior High in northeast Independence, has been hired as principal at West Platte High School in Weston. Two girls tied with the same grade point average have been declared valedictorians of the class...

15 Years Ago–May 9, 2007

by Ivan Foley
May 13, 2022
0

It has been a hectic week for Platte County residents and business owners with property in low-lying areas, as heavy rains across the region have forced rivers and streams out of their banks. Areas in and around Parkville, Riverside, Tracy...

Next Post

Power plant getting residents' attention

Popular News

  • Area distillery releases first new bourbon in 30 years

    Area distillery releases first new bourbon in 30 years

    22 shares
    Share 9 Tweet 6
  • Bee Creek Bridge replacement set

    10 shares
    Share 4 Tweet 3
  • Large logistics park planned east of I-29

    198 shares
    Share 79 Tweet 50
  • Memorial Day Weekend Celebration planned

    7 shares
    Share 3 Tweet 2
  • City extends lease on temporary police station

    7 shares
    Share 3 Tweet 2
  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Pickem Terms and Conditions
Call us at 816-858-0363

Copyright © 2019-2020 The Platte County Landmark Newspaper - All Rights Reserved

No Result
View All Result
  • Subscribe Online
  • Home
  • Local News
  • Opinion
  • Landmark Pickem
    • Results by Week
    • Pickem Rules and Help
  • Landmark Live!
  • Looking Backward
  • es_MXSpanish

Copyright © 2019-2020 The Platte County Landmark Newspaper - All Rights Reserved

Are you sure want to unlock this post?
Unlock left : 0
Are you sure want to cancel subscription?