Commission repeals salary commission

Wahkiakum County commissioners on Tuesday approved a resolution repealing the county salary commission.

The commissioners established the salary commission several years ago to set salaries for the commissioners in a non-political process. The salary commission was charged with setting the salary at a level commensurate with the responsibilities and requirements of the office and taking into consideration local conditions and statewide salaries for the job.

Commissioners now feel the salary commission isn't needed because they aren't planning to increase their salaries.

With the change, commissioners won't be able to increase their salaries during their current term in office.

They could vote to increase their salaries; the new salary wouldn't take effect until the terms of office for the commissioners had expired and they had to stand for election.