Ottawa County, Michigan's Board of Commissioners is teetering on the edge of green-lighting a hefty 60% salary hike for themselves, following a controversial vote by the county's Officers' Compensation Commission last month. Set to reel in a wage windfall, the chairperson's pay would skyrocket from $27,127 to a cool $43,403, while the vice chair is looking at a jump from $21,523 to $34,436, and fellow commissioners from a modest $20,844 up to $33,350, if a vote coming up May 14 swings their way.
The Ottawa County Officers' Compensation Commission, which approved the resolution by a 3-1 vote in April, didn't shy away from sweetening the deal further with a $1,000 monthly health stipend. County documents highlighted by FOX 17 outline the proposed pay raises, which would make Ottawa County's commissioners the top earners in West Michigan, outpacing counterparts in neighboring Kent and Kalamazoo counties. Yet, Larry Jackson, chair of the Democratic Party in Ottawa County and the lone voice of dissent on the Compensation Commission, called the increase "outlandish."
Voices of opposition echo through the local political landscape, with Ottawa County's District 4 Commissioner Jacob Bonnema slamming the hike on Facebook as an "abuse of our tax dollars," according to WZZM 13. Meanwhile, Chairperson Joe Moss, reportedly surprised by the news, mulled over the process and questioned the transparency of the decision in a recent article.
Despite the controversy, some commissioners are reflecting on the reasoning behind the proposed pay raise. Commissioner Allison Miedema, in postings on Facebook, queried if the current pay scale might deter qualified individuals from running for local office due to financial constraints, a sentiment echoed by Commissioner Gretchen Cosby, who emphatically stated to FOX 17, "We are providing a service to the community."
The fuss over fiscal matters coincides with scrutiny of recent appointees to the Compensation Commission, who have shown previous financial support for Ottawa Impact candidates, as detailed by Holland Sentinel. This adds another layer to the discussions, which might culminate in one of the more memorable votes of the year come mid-May, with potential ripple effects for the county's fiscal forward march.
