Potter County elected officials will earn more next term

Potter County’s elected officials will receive annual salaries of $41,634 and up starting in 2008, with twopercent increases over the three years that follow.

A brief public meeting on the salary issue Tuesday night at the courthouse drew a scattering of citizens and no public input.

Commissioners Ken Wingo, Catherine Bowers and John

Torok then unanimously passed a motion that grants two-percent salary increases for nine county positions, starting in 2008.

The three commissioners elected next year will start at $41,634 in 2008. The county treasurer and sheriff will also make $41,634. Those salaries will go to $42,467 in 2009, $43,316 in 2010, and $44,182 in 2011.

In recognition of their dual roles, the prothonotary and clerk of courts, as well as the register of wills/recorder of deeds, will each be paid $47,582 in 2008, with increases to $48,534, $49,504 and $50,494.

The commissioners also approved a two-percent raise for the jail warden in 2008, to $5,947, and boosted the pay for the three elected county auditors to $134 per day. Those salaries will also rise by twopercent over the next three years.

State law requires the commissioners to establish the salaries for 2008 and beyond this year, since taking action in 2007 -- an election year -- could create a conflict of interest for any of them seeking re-election.

One county official questioned by Endeavor News after the meeting predicted that all three commissioners, as well as Sheriff Ken Sauley, Treasurer Krista Miller, Register and Recorder Gary Kelsey and Prothonotary/Clerk of Courts Amy Moshier, will all run for re-election next year.

Commissioner Bowers said Tuesday that the two-percent increases were designed to be in line with forecasted rates of inflation in the coming years, calling them “cost of living increases.” She added that, four years ago, the thencommissioners approved significant pay increases for elected officials.

Chairman Wingo noted that, prior to the increases approved for 2004-07, Potter County’s elected officials were the lowest-paid in the state.