Summer means budget-setting for municipalities throughout the Wood River Valley—and with budget-setting comes the sometimes-contentious matter of setting salaries for public employees.
Blaine County officials began that process last month, as they included a 1.5 percent adjustment to the salaries of all county employees (not including elected officials), in addition to possible performance-based increases.
Commissioners Angenie McCleary and Larry Schoen also agreed to set aside a pool of $90,000 for potential raises for elected officials in 2013. Amounts would be recommended by a citizen committee, and could include a $21,265 salary increase for each county commissioner.
Blaine County Human Resources Generalist Susan Potucek said that this recommendation would be made to the county no later than Aug. 21. But as the committee deliberates, other municipalities are setting their budgets—and salaries—as well.
According to city records, Ketchum and Sun Valley both appear to be looking at slight increases for staff. Ketchum Mayor Randy Hall and City Administrator Gary Marks on June 4 suggested a cost-of-living increase for employees but did not recommend an amount.
The Sun Valley budget does not include a proposed cost of living increase as it has for the past five years, but bases employee raises on a series of performance reviews.
Some Sun Valley employees also receive a housing allowance. Virginia Egger, interim executive assistant to the mayor, said on Monday that the allowances, which are $6,000 annually for the fire chief and $7,200 annually for the streets superintendent, are based on the high cost of living in the city as well as the requirement that these employees live within a set geographic area.
Bellevue City Clerk Dee Barton said that the city of Bellevue is not considering raises this year, and the tentative budget approved by the city of Hailey does not include increases.
However, employees and administrators of the Blaine County School District saw increases in June, with administrators receiving 5 percent bumps and employees receiving at least a 3 percent pay increase.
Listed below are the salaries for major public employees, elected officials and administrators. All salaries are based on the most current information available.
Blaine County
Commissioners Angenie McCleary, Tom Bowman and Larry Schoen: $56,266 each
Administrator Derek Voss: $138,040
Clerk JoLynn Drage: $76,966
Land Use and Building Services Director Tom Bergin: $73,175
Assessor Valdi Pace: $76,966
Treasurer Vicki Sisiam: $76,966
Prosecuting Attorney Jim Thomas: $117,766
Sheriff Gene Ramsey: $89,041
Wood River Fire & Rescue Chief Bart Lassman: $102,838
Wood River Fire and Rescue Assistant Chief Jeff Nevins: $87,691
City of Ketchum
Mayor Randy Hall: $36,720 (part-time)
City Council Members Baird Gourlay, Michael David, Nina Jonas and Jim Slanetz: $20,400 (part-time)
Administrator Gary Marks: $160,068
Treasurer/Clerk Sandy Cady: $86,724
Community and Economic Development Director Lisa Horowitz: $120,258
Ketchum Fire Chief Mike Elle: $111,840
Ketchum Assistant Fire Chief Robbie Englehart: $85,068
Ketchum Police Chief Steve Harkins: $76,067 (on contract with Blaine County)
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City of Sun Valley
(amounts budgeted for 2012)
Mayor Dewayne Briscoe: $21,000 (part-time)
Council Members Bob Youngman, Michelle Griffith, Nils Ribi and Franz Suhadolnik: $12,000 each (part-time)
Administrator Sharon Hammer (no longer with city): $120,824
Clerk Kelly Ek (no longer with city): $57,592
Community Development Director Mark Hofman: $104, 932
Sun Valley Police Chief Cam Daggett: $114,276
Sun Valley Fire Chief Jeff Carnes: $113,156 (including housing allowance)
Sun Valley Fire Assistant Chief Ray Franco: $85,109
City of Hailey
Mayor Fritz Haemmerle: $18,960 (part-time)
Council Members Carol Brown, Martha Burke, Pat Cooley and Don Kiern: $9,600 (part-time)
Administrator Heather Dawson: $100,422
Clerk Mary Cone : $53,580
Community Development Director Micah Austin : $69,000
Hailey Fire Department Chief Mike Chapman: $76,232
Hailey Police Chief Jeff Gunter: $83,512
City of Bellevue
Mayor Chris Koch: $2,400 (part-time)
Council Members David Hattula, Amber Avila, Sara Burns, Barb Patterson, Larry Plott and Janet Duffy: $600 (part-time)
Clerk/Treasurer Dee Barton: $52,044
Development Services Director Craig Eckles: $61,872
Bellevue Marshall Larry Clark: $55,140 (on contract with Hailey)
Bellevue Fire Chief Greg Beaver: $18,449 (part-time)
Blaine County School District
Superintendent Lonnie Barber: $158,575
Assistant Superintendent John Blackman: $125,651
Business Manager Mike Chatterton: $114,579
Curriculum Director Patricia McLean: $107,830
Student Services Director Debi Gutknecht: $109,262
Technology Director Jerry Hutchins: $111,449
Bellevue Elementary School Principal Angie Martinez: $89,798
Hemingway Elementary School Principal Don Haisley: $104,491
Hailey Elementary School Principal Tom Bailey: $100,389
Woodside Elementary School Principal Brad Henson: $88,374
Carey School Principal John Peck: $107,520
Wood River Middle School Principal Fritz Peters: $107,452
Wood River High School Principal Peter Jurovich: $106,050
Mountain Rides
Executive Director Jason Miller: $92,768
Business Manager Wendy Crosby: $54,496
Maintenance Manager Rod Domke: $67,600
Operations Manager Jim Finch: $62,192
