The Free Press, Mankato, MN

Local News

January 1, 2009

Pay cuts fall to freeze on board

Commissioners attempt to reduce salaries

By Brian Ojanpa

WASECA — In these economic times, pay raises are tough enough to come by.

A couple of Waseca County commissioners learned that seeking a pay cut can be even tougher.

When the County Board met recently to vote on its 2009 salaries, the consensus held that salary increases wouldn’t be appropriate, given economic times.

County boards and other elected panels have been routinely opting to freeze salaries. But commissioners Richard Androli and Al Ruhland proposed the Waseca board go one better.

Let’s lower our pay, they said.

Fellow commissioner Rick Morris wasn’t on board with that — he thought that sent the wrong message that other county employees should do the same — but made another pay-cutting suggestion along the same lines by proposing that board per diems be slashed.

Morris’ proposal to go from an $80 to a $65 per diem died before it could come to a vote, and the salary-cut proposal was voted down by a 3-2 margin.

The board opted to freeze salaries for 2009 at the current level of $22,172, and to keep the per diem the same at $80.

Ruhland, who is serving out his second term on the board after being ousted in the November election, said although he favored lowering salaries, he lobbied for an increase in per-diem pay.

His rationale: The $80 stipend doesn’t cover the costs of a commissioner’s committee work and attendant traveling.

Morris doesn’t argue that point but said he proposed lowering the per diem for a couple of reasons. He thinks a commissioner’s salary alone should be sufficient compensation and, more personally, he wanted to send a message to certain constituents.

“There are probably people out there who say, ‘Rick’s just in it for the money,’” Morris said.

He said he also favored lowering the per diem because Waseca County’s rate is among the highest in the area.

Morris said he hasn’t taken any per diems in his six years on the board, even though he figures he gives up $3,000 to $4,000 a year by doing so.

Ruhland said although he suggested lowering salaries, that shouldn’t be construed as a belief that commissioners are paid too much.

“My own personal opinion is that the salary isn’t high enough, considering the amount of time you have to spend on the board, and the abuse you have to take.”

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