Joint Committee Committee on Joint Local Government (01/27/2011)

Final
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING

COMMITTEE ON JOINT LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Date:	01/27/2011	ATTENDANCE

Time:	07:36 AM to 08:46 AM	Aguilar	E
		Balmer	E
Place:	HCR 0112	Cadman	E
		Casso	E
This Meeting was called to order by		Conti	X
	Senator Foster	Fields	X
		Gardner B.	X
This Report was prepared by		Lee	X
	David Beaujon	McCann	X
		Nicholson	X
		Roberts	X
		Soper	X
		Swerdfeger	X
		Szabo	X
		Bradford	X
		Foster	X
		X = Present, E = Excused, A = Absent, * = Present after roll call

Bills Addressed:		Action Taken:
County Elected Officials Salary Commission		Briefing only

07:37 AM -- County Elected Officials Salary Commission

Linda Romer Todd, representing the general public on the County Elected Officials Salary Commission, identified the members of the commission and described its charge. The salaries of county commissioners, sheriffs, treasurers, assessors, clerk and recorders, coroners, and county surveyors, are set in Section 30-3-105, C.R.S. Senate Bill 05-188 created the County Elected Officials Salary Commission to review and recommend salary adjustments for county elected officials. Under the changes made by Senate Bill 10-182, the commission must submit to the House and Senate Local Government Committees a report that recommends salaries to be paid to county elected officials in each category of county (Section 30-3-105, C.R.S.). This report was delivered on January 27, 2011 (Attachment A). Ms. Todd identified the most recent salary adjustments for county elected officials and described the disparities that currently exist between the salaries of county elected officials and the salaries of their staff. She also proposed that the commission and members of the House and Senate Local Government Committees meet to discuss legislation to adjust salaries of county elected officials.

07:45 AM

Dee Ann Stultz, representing county treasurers on the commission, introduced herself and described her role on the commission.

07:45 AM

Thomas Davidson, representing Category II-V counties on the commission, explained that he served on the commission in 2009 and objected to recommending an increase of salaries in 2010 due to the state of the economy. He also explained that a majority of county commissioners agree that salaries should be adjusted incrementally every four years.

07:49 AM

Rich Seymour, representing the general public on the commission, explained that he served on the commission in 2009 and objected to recommending an increase of salaries for 2010. He also described the need to incrementally adust salaries of county elected officials.

07:51 AM

Ms. Todd explained that the commission examined how other states adjust salaries for elected officials and conducted a survey of county elected officials regarding the need to adjust salaries. She explained that the commission plans to request legislation to adjust the salaries of county elected officials when it reports to the General Assembly in 2013. The commission will request that such adjustment would take effect in 2015.

07:54 AM

The committee commented on the salaries of county official, other public officials, and discussed the commission's recommendations.

08:02 AM

Ms. Todd explained that state law creates six categories for counties and sets different salaries for county elected officials in each category. She also responded to comments and questions from the committee and explained how Arizona, New Mexico, Kansas, Wyoming, and other states adjust salaries for county elected officials.

08:09 AM

Mr. Davidson described salary adjustment mechanisms considered by the commission including allowing county commissioners to adjust salaries within certain ranges for each county category.

08:17 AM

Ms. Todd explained that counties are generally not interested in being granted the authority to adjust the salaries of county elected officials.

08:20 AM

Bruce Eisenhauer, Department of Local Affairs, explained that Article XIV, Section 15 of the Colorado Constitution requires that the legislature set the salaries for county elected officials. This law would need to be changed if counties are to be allowed to adjust salaries for county elected officials.

08:27 AM

Mr. Davidson responded to comments from the committee regarding the need to adjust salaries of county elected officials and the relevance of private sector salaries when determining salaries for elected officials. He also explained the benefits of making incremental adjustments to county salaries instead of less frequent, but larger adjustments.

08:34 AM

Committee discussion followed about the need to adjust the salaries of county elected officials.

08:39 AM

Warren Ward, representing county surveyors on the commission and explained that state law allows the salaries of county surveyors to be set by a board of county commissioners and counties can also contract for surveying duties. He explained that the county surveyor office is vacant in approximately 50 percent of Colorado counties and he expressed concern about expanding the authority of county commissioners to adjust the salaries of county elected officials.

08:43 AM

Ms. Todd described the need for legislation in 2012 to create a process to adjust the salaries in 2015.

08:46 AM

The meeting adjourned.