Amador County – The Amador County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday looked to squelch any controversy over pay increases for county government employees by deferring a raise in their own salary and benefits until 2012.

Supervisor Richard Forster told TSPN that Supervisors want to “set the record straight” after receiving complaints about recently approved pay raises for Health Director Kristen Bengyel and Social Services Director Matt Zanze. “We know the budget times are tough and it doesn’t look like they are going to get better any faster,” he said. “At some point you have to do that for positions where there is obviously a disparity.” He said no other county positions are being considered for raises.

Forster criticized the Amador Ledger Dispatch for publishing a story on county salaries that he called “misleading” by showing “a significantly different picture.”

Supervisors alluded to other complaints they have received.

“The accusation that somehow we’re feathering our nests when everybody else is being asked to take a cut is just blatantly untrue,” said Supervisor John Plasse. “We’ve postponed (increases) twice before, refused COLA (cost-of-living adjustment) funds, and took a ten percent pay cut.”

According to Amador County Code, Supervisor salaries would have been adjusted from 35 percent to 40 percent of the Amador County superior court judge’s salary. Last June, they deferred the adjustment to take place on July 1st, 2011. Supervisor gross base salaries are currently $4,733 a month after furlough days, not including benefits.

On Tuesday, they approved an additional deferment until July 1st, 2012. The motion passed unanimously.

“These are tough, tough times,” said Board Chairman Brian Oneto. “Right now something like this is just not necessary.”

Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.