Prince Frederick, MD – The Calvert County Commissioners went quite a bit above the recommendations of a local compensation review panel as it voted unanimously Tuesday, Aug. 22 to give the jurisdiction’s next sheriff a six-figure annual salary. The pay boost and other recommended raises for elected officials, including members of the next board of county commissioners, must be approved by the Maryland General Assembly.
The local Compensation Review Board (CRB) had recommended an annual salary for the person elected sheriff in 2018 of $94,000 with annual incremental increases that would reach $106,000 in the year 2021.
In making the motion to request legislation to pay the next sheriff an annual salary on the Maryland State Police scale, Commissioner Mike Hart [R – District 1] declared the office of sheriff “is a life-and-death job. We are the safest county in the state of Maryland. It appears the other counties provide a higher salary. The sheriff’s position should reflect its peers.” Hart recommended an annual salary of $128,219. His motion was second and approved without dissent. Previously a motion was made to recommend an annual salary of $106,000 effective December 2018. That motion failed due to lack of a second.
The commissioners, on a 3-to-2 vote, approved a recommendation to increase the county treasurer’s annual salary at $57,000 effective December 2018. Commissioners Pat Nutter [R – District 2] and Steve Weems [R – At large] voted opposed, Nutter stating that he would have recommended a higher amount.
Weems made the motion to accept the CRB’s recommendation to incrementally raise the annual salary for a county commissioner starting at $43,500 in December 2018 to $48,000 in 2021.
Commissioner Evan K. Slaughenhoupt Jr. [R – District 3] noted that he supported no raises for county commissioners in a previous review year, citing the nation’s weak economy as a reason. Now, under the current administration, “it looks like the economy is going to improve.”
“I love this job, it can be frustrating at times,” said Nutter. “Quite frankly, I wouldn’t change it [salary] at all.” Both Nutter and Hart agreed holding the office of county commissioner was an honor. Nutter added, “I’m not going to raise taxes one year and then vote for an increase.”
Commissioners’ President Tom Hejl indicated the position of commissioner wasn’t merely ceremonial, declaring, “I don’t consider this an honor. It’s a very important job.” The commissioners who weighed in on the issue all agreed the job has become quite demanding in terms of time.
The vote on the CRB recommendation was 4-to-1 with Nutter opposed. Two other votes were taken, one to leave the annual supplemental compensation for the commissioner serving as board president at $2,500 and to not change the benefits for county commissioners. Both votes were unanimous.
The commissioners also voted unanimously to accept the CRB’s recommendation to make no charges to the pay and benefits for the judges of the Orphans’ Court.
Contact Marty Madden at marty.madden@thebaynet.com