Not all public officials get the same pay

After sitting through various board meetings, one can only wonder how the pay scales vary when it comes to serving on an elected board. How is the pay determined? Why does one board make more than the next? Is it based on size on population of representation? Does the salary play a part in the public’s interest in running for election on those boards? Becker County commissioners Each Becker County commissioner earns $22,137 in salary a year. They also receive $60 for other meetings attended besides the regular meetings scheduled twice a month. The board chair earns an extra $1,200 a year as well. Human Resources Director Nancy Grabanski said there was already a base salary set for commissioners when she started with the county 15 years ago, and it was likely set by comparing neighboring counties. “My guess is that was determined just like with the elected officials or other counties, they take a look at what’s out there,” she said. That means counties that are in the region and those that have similar demographics as Becker County. Once the base was established, it’s up to the sitting board if they want to give themselves a pay increase. It has been several years since the board has taken an increase. The board chair receives an extra stipend - which doubled this year from $600 to $1,200 - because he has more boards to sit on and constituents contact him more often. Without knowing more details on how many hours a school board or city council member put in in a month, Grabanski said it’s difficult to comment on why the county board makes so much more than the city and school boards. But she does know, the commissioners earn their keep. “The county board obviously sits on many different committees because they are out doing so many more things,” she said. “They pretty much have a full-time job.” County board meets twice a month where the other boards meet once a month - and that’s not counting committee meetings and other meetings they are invited to visit. “It’s a commitment to be a commissioner,” she said. City councils The biggest city in the county, Detroit Lakes, not surprisingly, pays the biggest salary. Aldermen earn $4,800 a year, with no extra pay for special meetings. The mayor earns $7,050. Like any other board, no one can really tell when board compensation came into play - it’s something that’s been in practice for many, many years. Detroit Lakes Administrator Bob Louiseau said that when the council sets a salary, it goes into effect the following year, according to city statutes. The biggest perk for Detroit Lakes aldermen is health insurance. Each council member and the mayor are offered health insurance through the city, a perk that only Detroit Lakes offers in this area. “I can’t tell you why that was part of the benefit package to begin with, but I do think part of it is there is quite a bit of work involved with being on the city council,” he said. Another reason is that the council doesn’t get any other compensation for special meetings or appearances.
“If they go to a meeting in the Cities, they have to give up time from their business or their employer has to give up time, and I think that, in part, is the reason why (they get health benefits),” Louiseau said. About five or six years ago, he said, the council approved reducing health insurance from family coverage to single for council members. That was due to budget cuts. He said that there is quite a bit of activity going on in the city, and if anyone takes a look at what all the aldermen do, “council people spend a considerable amount of time at the job to do it well.” Frazee council members earn $1,800 a year and an extra $50 for each special meeting attended. The mayor earns $3,400 a year. Lake Park City Council members earn $1,200 a year, with $25 for special meetings. The mayor earns $1,740. Lake Park City Clerk-Treasurer Lonnie Neuner said that recently the “council passed an ordinance changing the pay structure but not the amounts. Now the council and mayor are paid half of their salary automatically and half for attending the monthly regular meetings.” The Audubon City Council earns slightly more than Lake Park with council members earning $1,440 a year and the mayor at $2,160 a year. They also receive $50 per special meeting. School boards The Frazee-Vergas School Board earns the least in the area. Board members are paid by the meetings they attend instead of an annual salary. They earn $60 per meeting - which at 12 months would equal $720 a year - $35 per committee meeting, $30 an hour per negotiation meetings, and the chair earns an extra $300 a year. Frazee Superintendent Terry Karger said the amounts are determined by the board. This year the board voted to keep the numbers the same as last year, and Karger said he’s not sure when the last time those numbers were adjusted. Frazee is the lowest paid board among the three districts, but hopefully that doesn’t deter people from stepping up and running for office. “Higher pay may encourage more to run, not sure,” Karger said. “My hope would be that the willingness to serve is the reason (they run).” The Lake Park-Audubon School Board is also paid by the meeting instead of salary. Each board member earns $80 a meeting - which would figure out to $960 a year - and $50 for each special meeting. The board chair does not earn any extra pay. Detroit Lakes School Board members earn $2,400 a year, with the chair of the board earning the same as any other member. They each get $60 for special meetings as well. None of the school boards offer their members health insurance. Follow Pippi Mayfield on Twitter at @PippiMayfield.After sitting through various board meetings, one can only wonder how the pay scales vary when it comes to serving on an elected board.How is the pay determined? Why does one board make more than the next? Is it based on size on population of representation? Does the salary play a part in the public’s interest in running for election on those boards?Becker County commissionersEach Becker County commissioner earns $22,137 in salary a year. They also receive $60 for other meetings attended besides the regular meetings scheduled twice a month. The board chair earns an extra $1,200 a year as well.Human Resources Director Nancy Grabanski said there was already a base salary set for commissioners when she started with the county 15 years ago, and it was likely set by comparing neighboring counties.“My guess is that was determined just like with the elected officials or other counties, they take a look at what’s out there,” she said.That means counties that are in the region and those that have similar demographics as Becker County.Once the base was established, it’s up to the sitting board if they want to give themselves a pay increase. It has been several years since the board has taken an increase. The board chair receives an extra stipend - which doubled this year from $600 to $1,200 - because he has more boards to sit on and constituents contact him more often.Without knowing more details on how many hours a school board or city council member put in in a month, Grabanski said it’s difficult to comment on why the county board makes so much more than the city and school boards. But she does know, the commissioners earn their keep.“The county board obviously sits on many different committees because they are out doing so many more things,” she said. “They pretty much have a full-time job.”County board meets twice a month where the other boards meet once a month - and that’s not counting committee meetings and other meetings they are invited to visit.“It’s a commitment to be a commissioner,” she said.City councilsThe biggest city in the county, Detroit Lakes, not surprisingly, pays the biggest salary. Aldermen earn $4,800 a year, with no extra pay for special meetings. The mayor earns $7,050.Like any other board, no one can really tell when board compensation came into play - it’s something that’s been in practice for many, many years.Detroit Lakes Administrator Bob Louiseau said that when the council sets a salary, it goes into effect the following year, according to city statutes.The biggest perk for Detroit Lakes aldermen is health insurance. Each council member and the mayor are offered health insurance through the city, a perk that only Detroit Lakes offers in this area.“I can’t tell you why that was part of the benefit package to begin with, but I do think part of it is there is quite a bit of work involved with being on the city council,” he said.Another reason is that the council doesn’t get any other compensation for special meetings or appearances.
“If they go to a meeting in the Cities, they have to give up time from their business or their employer has to give up time, and I think that, in part, is the reason why (they get health benefits),” Louiseau said.About five or six years ago, he said, the council approved reducing health insurance from family coverage to single for council members. That was due to budget cuts.He said that there is quite a bit of activity going on in the city, and if anyone takes a look at what all the aldermen do, “council people spend a considerable amount of time at the job to do it well.”Frazee council members earn $1,800 a year and an extra $50 for each special meeting attended. The mayor earns $3,400 a year.Lake Park City Council members earn $1,200 a year, with $25 for special meetings. The mayor earns $1,740.Lake Park City Clerk-Treasurer Lonnie Neuner said that recently the “council passed an ordinance changing the pay structure but not the amounts. Now the council and mayor are paid half of their salary automatically and half for attending the monthly regular meetings.”The Audubon City Council earns slightly more than Lake Park with council members earning $1,440 a year and the mayor at $2,160 a year. They also receive $50 per special meeting.School boardsThe Frazee-Vergas School Board earns the least in the area. Board members are paid by the meetings they attend instead of an annual salary.They earn $60 per meeting - which at 12 months would equal $720 a year - $35 per committee meeting, $30 an hour per negotiation meetings, and the chair earns an extra $300 a year.Frazee Superintendent Terry Karger said the amounts are determined by the board. This year the board voted to keep the numbers the same as last year, and Karger said he’s not sure when the last time those numbers were adjusted.Frazee is the lowest paid board among the three districts, but hopefully that doesn’t deter people from stepping up and running for office.“Higher pay may encourage more to run, not sure,” Karger said. “My hope would be that the willingness to serve is the reason (they run).”The Lake Park-Audubon School Board is also paid by the meeting instead of salary. Each board member earns $80 a meeting - which would figure out to $960 a year - and $50 for each special meeting. The board chair does not earn any extra pay.Detroit Lakes School Board members earn $2,400 a year, with the chair of the board earning the same as any other member. They each get $60 for special meetings as well.None of the school boards offer their members health insurance.Follow Pippi Mayfield on Twitter at @PippiMayfield.