Riley County commissioners are looking into a 5% decrease for their salaries.
During a previous meeting, Commissioner Ron Wells brought up the idea to help save money for the budget. Both Commissioners Marvin Rodriguez and John Ford agreed with the idea.
Ford says if they need to make any cuts to the budget, he would want their salaries to be cut first.
“I think that’s it important as we go through next year, that if we get in a pinch we already incorporated this before we go straight to personnel,” says Ford.
County Clerk Rich Vargo says just because they have the money, doesn’t meant they need to spend it. Cutting more money might hinder them next year since they won’t have, but if they save it then those monies can be transferred.
Wells says he wants to keep a flat mill levy regardless of the tax lid.
“Because of what our businesses and taxpayers in Riley County have gone through due to COVID-19, for the sake of them. We don’t know what the impact is going to be. Some of those people are my friends and some work for us, so that’s my goal,” says Wells.
Budget and Finance Officer Tami Robison will present budget numbers reflecting salary decreases on Monday. A 5% decrease would take away around $3,000 of each of their $45,000 thousand salary.
