• About Us
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Pickem Terms and Conditions
Thursday, June 30, 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 officeholders favor mid-term cola increase

Landmark Staff by Landmark Staff
October 21, 2005
in Platte County
4
SHARES
89
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare via Email

County officeholders favor mid-term COLA increase Constitutionality of the action called into question; county counselor expected to research the matterby Kim Fickett and Ivan Foley Landmark staffConfusion and uncertainty. Those words might best describe the atmosphere at a meeting of Platte County’s elected officeholders at a meeting of what is known as the Salary Commission on Tuesday afternoon.

Talk of what has been done in the past, whether what was done in the past was legal or constitutional, and what should be done in regard to future cost of living increases for officeholders all played into the discussion.

RelatedNews

Hunters can take advantage of coyote control season

Quilt for an injured cop

Republican women’s group to meet Jan. 27

A new statute passed by the Missouri legislature this year allows the county’s salary commission to establish parameters for all officeholder salaries. The new law tosses out the former maximum pay scale that had been established by the state. Even though technically that maximum allowable compensation no longer exists, it was referred to in a motion passed on a split vote Tuesday.

Following discussion, Platte County Collector Donna Nash motioned that “salaries for Platte County officials remain at 100% of the allowable compensation pursuant to Sections 50.343 and 57.317 RSMo as previously adjusted annually by the county commission for cost-of-living and further move that the county commission continue to be authorized to adjust the compensation of county officers effective January first of each year as a cost-of-living adjustment which shall be in the form of a percentage which shall be the same for all county officers, not to exceed the percentage increase given other county employees.”

The Platte County Salary Commission is comprised of 12 elected officials. Those serving on the commission are: Presiding Commissioner Betty Knight, First District Commissioner Tom Pryor, Second District Commissioner Jim Plunkett, Collector Donna Nash, Sheriff Richard Anderson, County Clerk Sandy Krohne, Public Administrator Terry Edwards, Assessor Lisa Pope, Auditor Sandra Thomas, Treasurer Bonnie Brown, Recorder of Deeds Ida Cox and Prosecuting Attorney Eric Zahnd.

Zahnd did not take part in the meeting because his salary is set by state statute. Brown was out of town and did not attend. Cox, who has indicated she is retiring and will not seek reelection, also did not attend.

By a vote of 7-2 from the Salary Commission—with Pryor and Plunkett voting no—the motion passed allowing elected officials’ salaries to remain at 100% with the opportunity for a COLA (cost of living adjustment) if approved by the county commission.

“The Salary Commission themselves cannot decide (the amount of) a cost of living increase,” said Krohne. “We give the county commission the authority to give a cost of living if they so choose to.”

Plunkett questioned County Counselor Bob Shaw about the legality of the motion and what the county has done regarding COLA’s for several years with elected officials, stating he doesn’t want to get caught in a situation like the county has in the past (referencing the unconstitutional mid-term pay raise with former First District Commissioner Michael Short).

Krohne pointed out that the county has been issuing these COLA’s to their elected officials in mid-term for many years.

“Just because we’ve been doing it that way doesn’t make it legal,” stated Plunkett. “I don’t want to get in a situation where I’ve been tied to something like what’s been done in the past.”

He continued, “My concern is, legally is that what we’re supposed to be doing?”

With many unclear and uncut answers in Missouri statutes, Shaw was unable to give a clear-cut answer. While declining to give a strong voice on his own interpretation, Shaw said the constitutionality of mid-term cost of living pay increases has never been ruled on by the courts. Nor has the state attorney general offered an opinion on the matter, Shaw said.

“An argument could be made either way (on the constitutionality of cost of living pay increases for officeholders being accepted in the middle of their terms),” Shaw remarked.

The Salary Commission has until Dec. 15 to rescind the action taken Tuesday if Shaw later advises the motion to be illegal or unconstitutional.

The salary commission would then reconvene at a later date to rescind the motion and review the issue.

According to the county auditor, with the exception of Zahnd, Anderson, Pryor and Plunkett, each county officeholder makes $63,840 annually.

State statute says the associate commissioners must be paid $2,000 less than the presiding commissioner, so Pryor and Plunkett earn $61,840. Anderson is paid $69,250 for the position of sheriff and Zahnd’s prosecutorial salary as set by the state is $96,000.

It was pointed out the county commission is not bound by the salary commission’s motion. Commissioners could decide not to grant budget authority authorizing any cost of living pay increase effective for officeholders in next year’s budget.

In previous years, the county has authorized the same percentage cost of living pay increase for officeholders as the county employees have received.



Tags: eric zahndplatte countyPublic Safety
Landmark Staff

Landmark Staff

Related Posts

30 Years Ago–July 3, 1992

by Ivan Foley
June 30, 2022
0

Navy Lt. Robert W. Dill, son of Pat S. Dill of Kansas City in Platte County, recently received the Navy Commendation Medal. Dill was cited for meritorious service while serving with Naval Supply Corps School, Athens, Ga. where he is...

15 Years Ago–June 27, 2007

by Ivan Foley
June 30, 2022
0

Dr. Mark Harpst says he won't serve beyond his current contract at Platte County R-3, which expires in two years. He will be on the job at R-3 no longer than that. Of that much he is certain. "In August...

Fireworks, Greitens, sashes

Fireworks, Greitens, sashes

by Guy Speckman
June 30, 2022
0

Happy 4th of July. Ask your family over for a good time. Bring up Roe v. Wade when you want everyone to go home. Perfect timing for a controversial Supreme Court ruling to drop. If that doesn't get the party...

The World Cup

A book update, The World Cup, fake news

by Ivan Foley
June 30, 2022
0

Remember that upcoming book by Landmark columnist Chris Kamler that we talked about several weeks back? Sure you do. "It is fully written. I have it out getting proofed and I'm working on a cover," Kamler told me this week....

Next Post

Fundraising effort to aid Parkville Christmas event

Popular News

  • July 4th in Platte City: Free food, music, games

    July 4th in Platte City: Free food, music, games

    39 shares
    Share 16 Tweet 10
  • Authorities seek two persons of interest in shooting

    26 shares
    Share 10 Tweet 7
  • Parkville sanctuary is a chance to connect with nature

    8 shares
    Share 3 Tweet 2
  • Greitens unplugged; an answer to satellite radio problem

    13 shares
    Share 5 Tweet 3
  • Supreme Court takes exception to Schmitt ad

    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?