Story Published: Sep 8, 2010 at 9:11 PM PST
Story Updated: Sep 8, 2010 at 9:11 PM PST
First, commissioners discussed the budget, which includes a 5 percent cost of living increase for county employees and elected officials.
To help pay for it, the county was proposing a 3 percent hike in property taxes. Something not all commissioners agreed with.
"We ought to just show some leadership here and not take a pay increase," said County Commissioner Mike Grow. "Maybe it's because I had my own business for the last 15, 16 years, but the only way I ever got a pay increase. I never got to vote myself in one, although that is kind of a nice luxury. I actually had to work more, or work smarter. And generally that didn't happen, so I worked more."
Grow said he agreed the commission needed to honor union increases that were already promised, but others should forgo their raises.
Two in attendance defended the cost of living increases, saying they were a necessary part of keeping up with other increasing costs.
"There are other people in the Valley getting raises this year," said Lewiston resident Paul Bogar. "Some of them that I have been told about are Valley Medical Center, ATK."
"Giving the cost of living increase seems like the right thing to do and where as you have a budget prepared that does that, it seems fitting to me that you follow that budget," said resident Phillip Acree.
Commissioner Ron Wittman said he looked over Commissioner Grow's concerns, but he didn't see an alternative in this situation.
"Last year when the employees had forgone on their raises, Regence at that time had gone up 8%, and everybody's paycheck went backwards, mine included," said Wittman.
Grow said he isn't against imposing taxes, he just doesn't think it's a good idea in an economic downturn.
"You can't keep taxing them 3 percent every year and and not think it doesn't affect them," said Grow. "Pretty soon when you tax them so they can't pay anymore, then what? This is the same thing that happened in England and why our founding fathers left there, because their taxes kept going up."
Grow says he would have voted favorably for a 1.5% property tax increase, but the other two commissioners stood fast. In the end Wittman and Chairman Doug Zenner, who are both up for re-election this year, voted for the proposed budget.
Grow voted against it.
