SALISBURY – A report prepared by the Wicomico County Compensation and Allowance Committee reflects significant disparities in a couple of the county official positions and seeks deep consideration for pay increases.
The Wicomico County Compensation and Allowance Commission met three times during the summer and fall of 2013 to prepare recommendations regarding the compensation of the County Executive, County Sheriff, Council President, Council Vice President and council members.
According to the report, the current annual compensation for the County Executive is $85,000. If the amount, which is originally set by the Charter Review Committee in 2003, is adjusted for inflation over the past eight years using cumulative Consumer Price Index data published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the 2014 amount would have to be $98,724.
In addition, the commission reviewed the range of compensation for similar positions in Maryland. Currently, the Wicomico position has the lowest compensation level with the next lowest being higher by $17,000 and the highest having a margin of over 112 percent.
The members of the commission estimate that, when the Wicomico amount is subjected to a market adjustment using the Cost of Living Index numbers published by the Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development for each of these jurisdictions, the desired compensation level for the position becomes $120,417. At this amount, the Wicomico compensation level would still be the lowest in the state but the gap will be narrower and the amount will be aligned with the complexity of the tasks at hand and the skill sets requires by the job description for the position.
Unfortunately, the current economic and fiscal climate would make this large of an adjustment problematic. Therefore, the members of the commission propose that the County Executive’s compensation be set at the inflation adjusted amount of $98,724 and then be pegged to the same annual cost of living adjustments that apply to all county employees.
The report continues, the current annual compensation for the County Sheriff is $85,000. If this amount is adjusted for inflation for the past eight years, using cumulative Consumer Price Index data the, the 2014 amount would also be $98,724.
Looking at the range of compensation for similar positions in Maryland, currently the Wicomico position is the seventh lowest in the state. However, if adjusted for cost of living, the compensation would become the seventh highest.
A better market adjustment, accounting for population, size of the county budget, and number of employees, would be $95,000. Therefore, the members of the commission propose that the County Sheriff’s compensation be set at the market adjusted amount of $95,000 and then be pegged to the same annual cost of living adjustments that apply to all county employees.
The current compensation for the Council President position is $18,000. If this amount is adjusted for inflation using the Consumer Price Index data, the 2013 amount would be $20,906. Commission members have examined the market differentials for this position using the same methodology as the one used for the County Executive position. For this position, the differential was negligible, and commission members have chosen not to make a market adjustment beyond the inflation adjustment. They also noted the part-time nature of the position and declined to peg the compensation to changes in the cost-of-living beyond the amount already adjusted.
The current annual compensation for the Council Vice President is $17,000. If this amount is adjusted for inflation using the Consumer Price Index data the 2013 amount would be $19,745. Commission members also found the differential negligible for this position, and have chosen not to make a market adjustment beyond the inflation adjustment, as well as noted the part-time nature and declined to peg the compensation to changes in the cost-of-living beyond the amount already adjusted.
The final position reviewed was council members, which have a current annual compensation of $16,000. If this amount is adjusted for inflation using the Consumer Price Index data, the 2013 amount would be $18,583. Commission members also found the differential negligible for this position, and have chosen not to make a market adjustment beyond the inflation adjustment, as well as noted the part-time nature and declined to peg the compensation to changes in the cost-of-living beyond the amount already adjusted.
“It is time ladies and gentlemen to step up to the plate,” commission member Ernie Colburn, executive director of the Salisbury Area Chamber of Commerce, said. “I know over the years you have taken these things and have chucked them over your shoulder or airplanes into baskets. Please don’t do that with this report. We are so behind the curb quite frankly it’s embarrassing, particularly with the County Executive’s position. There needs to be consideration. Maybe not all that is put down here but certainly up to a respectively standard, for yourselves as well.”
Councilwoman Stevie Prettyman disagreed that the council had ignored the disparity in the positions’ compensations in the past as well as the council being a part-time position.
“I believe every one of is on the council serve as full-time. There are weeks we put in 40 to 80 hours sometimes,” she said. “But with that aside I do want to reiterate that we really did give consideration in the past but when we would look at revenues coming into the county we didn’t feel justification on the council.”
Councilwoman Gail Bartkovich pointed out that if pay increases were granted it would not affect the current position holders. The pay increase would go into effect following elections in 2014.
Councilwoman Sheree Sample-Hughes asked to have a discussion regarding the report at a future work session sooner rather than later. Bartkovich agreed, adding the council would have to make a decision to submit to the County Executive’s office for preparation of the operating budget in February for budget sessions in April.
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