He’s got untold info on per diems increase for county supervisors

TO THE EDITOR: This is the untold information in regards to the per diem increase that was passed Nov 10.

As the current supervisor of District 17, I was in attendance at the October finance and personnel meeting when this item was discussed and passed, listening to the discussion and opinions of those committee members. Since I do not serve on that committee, I have no vote.

When this resolution came before the county board meeting in October, again supervisors expressed opinions, but no vote would be taken until the Nov. 10 county board meeting. After listening to the discussion, it became apparent this issue on per diem increases was going to be a close vote.

With that in mind, I came prepared to amend 09-05 resolution if it came on the floor for discussion and a vote. The original resolution for the per diem increase was a 30 percent increase for committee meeting, $35 to $47, board meeting, $50 to $70, and out-of-county meeting, $70 to $90. I believed this increase was excessive and was prepared to vote no.

But did the no’s have enough votes? So I amended this resolution to a lesser amount: committee meeting, $35 to $40, board to remain the same at $50, out-of-county meeting, $70 to $75, in addition, multiple meetings on the same day be paid at regular rates, no discounts, as has been previous practice, basically half rate for second and third meetings on the same day.

What the county board approved is about a 75 percent reduction or savings from the original resolution.

I believe this compromise was a better solution, which turned out a 10 yes and seven no vote, than the risk of not voting down the original resolution.

Tags: letters to editor, opinion