Montcalm County commissioners studying salaries, benefits
STANTON — Members of the Montcalm County Board of Commissioners are considering a compensation and benefits adjustment that would begin in 2013.
County Controller-Administrator Chris Hyzer provided commissioners with the results of a 19-county survey taken last September.
Any changes would have to be made before a current or potential commissioner files paperwork for the Nov. 6 election for a term beginning in 2013. The deadline to file for the Montcalm County election is May 15.
According to the results of the survey, the average annual salary for a commissioner is $8,175. Montcalm County commissioners earn an annual salary of $8,331 — $156 more than average.
The average annual salary for a chairman of a board of commissioners is $8,718. Montcalm County Board of Commissioners Chairman Patrick Q. Carr earns $9,581 for his duties — $863 more than average. Finance & Personnel Committee Chairman Roger Caris earns the same amount.
Commissioners discussed Caris’ salary at a recent Finance & Personnel Committee meeting. Caris was not present.
District 2 Commissioner Tom Lindeman said the chairman of the Finance & Personnel Committee used to have more responsibilities because Montcalm County used to only have a controller instead of a controller-administrator.
District 6 Commissioner Ron Baker said all commissioners need to be involved in the discussion.
“Everybody needs to be given an opportunity to speak to get some headway in this situation,” Baker said.
Committee members voted to have the full board discuss benefits and compensation at the next regular meeting scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Monday.
Hyzer also wants to hear commissioners’ thoughts on instituting a step schedule for elected officials, in part to offset training costs when a new person takes office. Hyzer said the county had to spend $2,000 to $2,500 when JoAnne Vukin replaced Marcia Sawdy as county treasurer this year.
“It’s not to penalize the person running (for election),” Hyzer said. “There’s costs involved.”
A look at Board of Commissioner salaries and benefits in Montcalm County and neighboring counties:
Clinton County
Chairman: $10,63
Vice chairman: $9,430
Commissioners: $8,694
Per diem for meetings: $45 for half day, $80 maximum
Health insurance: Yes, 10 percent co-pay
Payment in lieu of health insurance: $1,584
Dental and vision insurance: Included in cost share
Life insurance: Yes
Retirement plan: Yes
Gratiot County
Chairman $5,040
Commissioners $4,200
Per diem for meetings: $50 for full board meeting, $30 for committee meeting
Health insurance: No
Dental and vision insurance: $250 reimbursement
Life insurance: No
Retirement plan: No
Ionia County
Chairman $6,776
Commissioners $5,776
Per diem for meetings: $50 for full board meeting, $25 for committee meeting up to one hour or $50 for up to three hours or $75 for more than three hours
Health insurance: Yes, no premium for high deductible plan
Dental and vision insurance: Yes
Life insurance: Yes
Retirement plan: No
Isabella County
Chairman $7,500
Commissioners $7,000
Per diem for meetings: None
Health insurance: Yes, no premium for base plan
Dental and vision insurance: Yes
Life insurance: Yes
Retirement plan: No
Mecosta County
Chairman $8,988
Commissioners $7,988
Per diem for meetings: $25 for three hours
Health insurance: Appropriate coverage up to family, 15 percent co-pay
Payment in lieu of health insurance: $2,708
Dental and vision insurance: Yes
Life insurance: Yes
Retirement plan: Yes
Montcalm County
Chairman $9,581
Finance & Personnel Committee chairman $9,581
Commissioners $8,331
Per diem for meetings: $30 for half day, $50 for full day
Health insurance: Yes, 15 percent co-pay
Payment in lieu of health insurance: $2,400
Dental and vision insurance: Yes
Life insurance: Yes
Retirement plan: Yes
Newaygo County
Chairman $9,500
Vice chairman $9,000
Commissioners $8,500
Per diem for meetings: $60 for full board meeting, $30 for committee meeting
Health insurance: Yes
Payment in lieu of health insurance: Based on election of coverage
Dental and vision insurance: Yes
Life insurance: Yes
Retirement plan: Yes
Elisabeth Waldon
Elisabeth Waldon is news editor of The Daily News, where she began as an intern in 2001. Her beat includes courts/cops/crime and Montcalm County government. She is also editor of The Carson City Gazette. She loves investigative reporting, telling small-town stories, frequenting music halls, experimenting with photography and being a wife and mother in the "Panhandle" of Montcalm County.Elisabeth Waldon has written 556 articles.
First things first Fire them all and make the new Montcalm County Board of Commissioners an all Volunteer Board. Pretty Hard to not notice that the Health Insurance , Dental , Vision , Life and Retirement costs are not included in this break-down why is that? We are paying for these ridiculous salaries. These clowns should not have ANY type of insurance. Paying for these “Commissioners” are robbing from the public to serve their own interests with their salaries and insurance as we all saw with the last budget and the misguided cuts. Governor Snyder needs to review this matter for the entire state. Yes Police Officers and Fire Fighters who are being laid off carry a higher wage but when we have a crisis who is more qualified to help? Its pretty cut and dry. If they really cared they would work for free or work for a dollar then donate that dollar to a local food pantry after all doesn’t the Governor work for a dollar? Its like they are a mini Washington not once have the Commissioners that we have ever heard voluntarily cut their pay.