Nevada County’s Top Executives appointed and confidential Department Heads as well as Elected Officials will be getting pay raises next month. They were approved by the County Board of Supervisors in a series of resolutions yesterday. Nevada County Director of Human Resources Charlie Wilson says many employees gave up raises during the recession years, falling well behind what their counterparts earn in neighboring counties and leading to the departure of 7 Department Heads in the past 20 months. Wilson says County CEO Rick Haffey for example has not had a pay increase since 2007, and in tough economic times in 2010 Haffey volunteered to reduce his pay by 5% . The CEO’s amended contract will increase his pay by 6.3 percent with a 3% equity increase each year for the next 4 years.

Wilson says Nevada County Counsel Allison Barratt-Green ‘s salary is over 22 percent behind similar Counties.

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The new contract increases the County Counsel’s compensation by 7.7% in 2014 with step increases of 3% over the next 5 years.

A resolution approving changes in salary and benefits for Elected Officials of the County was also based on an independent survey study that indicated all 6 of the Elected Officials were trailing comparable counties, ranging from 3 percent to 13 percent. County CEO Rick Haffey says equitable pay for elected officials ensures the best candidates come forward to fill those positions.

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On a split vote will Supervisors Richard Anderson and Terry Lamphier voting no, supervisors approved a 4% pay increase over the next two years for elected officials.