The Ottawa County Board of Commissioners is poised to receive a 60 percent raise next year, plus new $1,000 monthly stipends for healthcare — totaling $152,747.60 in additional costs.
They separate the pay raise from the stipend. In actuality, it is a 118% increase in compensation and a 118% increase in cost to the taxpayer. In my 8 years on the board, it was about a 10 to 15 hour a week job. (It still is if the board is run efficiently with an experienced administration) At $45,350 for 520 to 780 hours per year, that is between $54.14 and $87.20 per hour. Keep in mind these are amateur commissioners. They know nothing about the job. They are by no means trained professionals. And they have cost the county hundreds of thousands of dollars in legal fees due to their inexperience and illegal actions. Ultimate costs will be much higher by the time the lawsuits are settled. There is zero justification for these huge raises.
They separate the pay raise from the stipend. In actuality, it is a 118% increase in compensation and a 118% increase in cost to the taxpayer. In my 8 years on the board, it was about a 10 to 15 hour a week job. (It still is if the board is run efficiently with an experienced administration) At $45,350 for 520 to 780 hours per year, that is between $54.14 and $87.20 per hour. Keep in mind these are amateur commissioners. They know nothing about the job. They are by no means trained professionals. And they have cost the county hundreds of thousands of dollars in legal fees due to their inexperience and illegal actions. Ultimate costs will be much higher by the time the lawsuits are settled. There is zero justification for these huge raises.
I'd love to get more on your perspective prior to the meeting! Let me know the best way to talk with you this weekend. 😁
You can call me at 616-772-6036 or e-mail at bobkar@yahoo.com. Whatever is most convenient for you.
This does not seem right. They have spent so much money on law suits. Why should they get a raise for that?