Seven elected officials forego raises

Published 12:07 pm Wednesday, April 1, 2009

By Staff
ST. JOSEPH – Berrien County Sheriff L. Paul Bailey, Prosecutor Arthur J. Cotter, Register of Deeds Lori D. Jarvis, Surveyor John Kamer, Clerk M. Louise Stine, Treasurer Bret Witkowski and Drain Commissioner Roger H. Zilke announced Tuesday that they asked County Administrator Bill Wolf and the Board of Commissioners to forego any salary increases for them for fiscal year 2010.
Tough economic times have come to Berrien County and the State of Michigan.
In recognition of that fact, Berrien County employees were recently asked to forego any pay raises in the coming year.
The seven elected county officials believe it is inconsistent with that request for them to ask more of their employees than they are willing to give up.
While their employees have already been asked to do more with less over the past several years, in this economic environment they urge them to support an across-the-board pay freeze in exchange for Berrien County's promise not to lay off any fellow county employees.