County officials in line for raises

The Kitsap County commissioners will address a resolution that raises the salaries of several high-profile county employees at a special meeting at 10 a.m. today in the commissioners’ chambers in the County Courthouse.

As always, the meeting includes time for public comment about agenda items.

The raises are approved in steps. The resolution includes amounts for Sept. 1, 2005 (now retroactive) and Sept. 1, 2006.

The positions include Superior Court and District Court judges and commissioners, the county prosecutor, the sheriff, auditor, assessor, treasurer, clerk and coroner.

Additionally, the Central Kitsap commissioner post, now held by Patty Lent, will receive a raise. This will not go into effect, however, until Lent or her successor take office in 2007.

Position 3 is currently the lowest paid commissioner, at $87,269 for 2006. If approved, the position will become the highest paid in 2007, at $105,590.40.

A commissioner’s action on their own salary cannot take effect during the term in which the resolution is passed.

If passed, the highest paid county employees will be the Superior Court judges and the prosecutor, at $128,143 (2005) and $131,988 (2006), respectively. However, half of these salaries are paid by the state.

District Court judges will earn $122,012 (2005) to $125,672 (2006). The Superior Court Commissioner will earn $115,789 (2005) to $118,789 (2006) while the District Court Commissioner will earn $109,810.80 (2005) to $113,104.80 (2006).

The sheriff will earn $102.514.40 (2005) to $105,590.40 (2006). The assessor, auditor, clerk and treasurer will earn $96,107.25 (2005) to $98,991 (2006) while the coroner will receive $85,855.81 (2005) to $88,431.96.

These amounts conform to the salary schedule established by the Washington State Citizens’ Commission on Salaries in May 2005.

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