Pay Raises for City of Selah?

Tools

Story Published: Nov 23, 2009 at 6:39 PM PDT

By Melissa Wagner

Watch the story
Selah - While most cities are laying off staff, freezing salaries and cutting budgets, the city of Selah is looking at a hefty pay raise for it's city supervisor.

City council will also vote on a cost of living pay increase tomorrow night for city staff and administration. But how can this small city afford it?

" When people do a great job, they should be compensated accordingly," said Selah Mayor, Bob Jones.

Last year, Selah city administrators were given a 4% pay increase. Including city supervisor, Frank Sweet. This year he's asking for 6%. So I asked the mayor how the city was able to do that when so many of the surrounding cities are not. Jones said, "We run Selah like a businesses. And the taxpayer's money is very sacred."

And it helps that the city has had a good year, financially. Building permits were up this year. So is the sales tax revenue. The mayor says its due to the new sports facility. Major softball tournaments over the summer brought in huge crowds.

" When they're here, they're buying hamburgers, sodas, all types of things, gas... So it helps the revenue," said Jones.

But is that enough to justify pay increases for city staff when so many residents are out of work themselves? I did try to speak with Frank Sweet, the Selah City Supervisor, but he refused to comment. I also tried to talk with several council members, but they were not available. However, I did get Summer Derry on the phone and she told me that she will question the 6% increase for the city supervisor."

Mayor Jones said Sweet's salary is well below other cities of similar size. Right now he's making $98,000. If he gets a 6% increase it will jump to more than $103,000. That's still less than Grandview's city Administrator who, with a pay increase this January, now makes a little over $105,000. But the former city manager for Sunnyside only pulled in $95,000. So will Selah City Council go for it?

" I'm like you. I'll have to wait and see what comes up," said Jones.

And there are a lot of people looking forward to giving their two cents.

I asked the Mayor if he was also in line for a pay raise this year. He told me he hasn't had a raise for more than a decade. He says it's his way of giving back to the community. Selah City council is expected to vote on those pay raises during the regular council meeting Tuesday night.













Upload directly from your mobile device.

Learn how

YouNews

This content requires the latest Adobe Flash Player and a browser with JavaScript enabled. Click here for a free download of the latest Adobe Flash Player.

On Demand

Resources and info you need to prepare for the switch to DTV.

Stay Connected