WFHB Bloomington Community Radio
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Monroe County’s three commissioners will each get paid the same amount next year, a salary of $35,257.
Currently, the president of the Monroe County Board of Commissioners receives about $700 more annually than the other two commissioners.
The Monroe County Council approved the change yesterday, in its second round of budget hearings.
Council members Marty Hawk and Cheryl Munson support the change. Munson said the newly-approved salary is not far off from what commissioners in neighboring counties earn.
County council member Geoff McKim said he thinks the presidents of both the county council and the board of commissioners deserve to be paid more. But, given the constraints imposed by the state of Indiana, he supports the change.
The commissioners’ 2019 salary includes a 1.7 percent cost of living increase.
While the Monroe County Commissioners have agreed to all be paid the same amount, the Bloomington City Council is moving in the opposite direction.
Council members have included a $1,000 increase in pay for the city council president in this year’s proposed budget. They’ve also included an $800 increase for the City Council Vice President.
Council member Steve Volan said the proposed increases in compensation are due to city council president and vice president attending more meetings and taking on more work than other council members.
The current City of Bloomington Common Council President is Dorothy Granger. Current Vice President is Isabel Piedmont-Smith. Common council members elect, or re-elect, presidents every year.
