Commission boosts elected official salaries by 10 percent

CLOVIS — Whoever wins the next two election cycles for Curry County positions, they’ll see a significant bump in their paycheck.

The Curry County Commission, by a 3-2 vote, approved a 10% increase for elected official salaries, effective when the next elected term for each office begins.

When fully implemented, the change would run the county about $400,000 annually. The current salaries of elected officials are $64,346.77 for the sheriff, $61,699.85 for the assessor, clerk and treasurer, $24,599.45 for each commissioner and $21,590.17 for the probate judge.

Increases would take place in 2023 for the sheriff, assessor, probate judge and the commissioners in Districts 1 and 3. Increases would take place in 2025 for the clerk, treasurer and commissioners in Districts 2, 4 and 5.

County Manager Lance Pyle noted elected officials hadn’t seen an increase since 2015 and floated a 5% increase in the agenda.

“I think it should be increased,” said Pyle, whose salary is determined by the commission. “I wish it would have been increased two years ago.”

Commissioner Chet Spear said a 10% increase would be more in line, considering elected officials hadn’t seen an increase since 2015 while other county employees have received annual salary increases of at least 2%. Pyle said he suggested 5% because no commissioner had directed him to propose a different amount, and that the percentage was entirely up to commissioners.

Spear said he’s as tight with money as anybody, but, “trying to get good people to run for these positions … maybe the money would make the difference. I'll be out of office in two years. I won't get one penny from this pay raise.”

District 4 Commissioner Seth Martin, who would see an increase if he wins re-election in 2024, agreed with Spear but noted the optics will always be that commissioners voted to increase their own salaries.

Commission Chairman Robert Thornton, who will term out in 2024, said he preferred county dollars going to rank-and-file employees on salary increases. Spear reminded Thornton that elected officials would still receive a smaller percentage raise than other county employees in the same period.

Voting in favor were Spear, Martin and James Ridling. Thornton and Bobby Sandoval voted in dissent.

In other business at the Tuesday meeting:

• The county continued an agreement to keep the Curry County Events Center closed through June, citing concerns public health orders would remain that would bar any events the center would hold.

The events center has been closed since October, with acting director K.C. Messick operating with part-time employees as needed. The agreement also waives the monthly $7,000 management fee Spectra charges as part of its agreement with the county.

The center was tentatively scheduled to open in March. Messick said the move impacts a home and garden show, two rodeo events and potential graduation ceremonies — most notably Clovis High School and Clovis Community College.

Spear asked if the agreement locked the county into a closed events center, even if the governor’s office relaxes public health orders. Pyle said the agreement could be ratified if that scenario takes place, and is already budgeted.

Thornton said he was concerned that the events that were canceled might not come back to the events center once gatherings are allowed again.

• The commission approved a $248,732 purchase of a Hyndai loader through R&S Hydraulics.

Road Supervisor Walon Jones said the purchase comes at a significant discount through a Sourcewell contract, and that employees gave good reviews of the loader after driving a similar model housed in Roswell.

Martin noted the cost wasn’t much more than repairing the 20-year-old loader it was replacing, and Thornton was glad Jones was able to find a local vendor.

• The commission approved a water purchase agreement with K. Barnett and Sons for water to be used for road projects at $4.25 per 1,000 gallons.

Spear noted the cost was the same as using EPCOR, but Barnett and Sons’ location was better located near the work sites.

• A request to amend an architecture services contract for the courthouse renovation was tabled because no supporting documentation was provided to commissioners.

The amendment would remove courthouse security cameras and door access controls from NCA Architects and give that aspect to Southwestern Business Solutions, which Facilities Director Ben Roberts said would save the county overall.

Spear said with SBS already contracted to do other work for the county, he had concerns awarding an additional contract could be viewed as bid-splitting — breaking up a large project into smaller projects to circumvent bid requirements. Martin said he had similar questions.

Roberts and Purchasing Agent Troy Hall said the contracts with SBS were completely separate and not bid-splitting. County Attorney Steve Doerr said he agreed with Hall and Roberts, but also agreed Martin and Spear certainly were justified in wanting to go through the documentation before voting.

• The county approved a resolution requesting the state review a New Mexico Retiree Healthcare Association rule change.

Personnel Coordinator Melissa Gunn said changes would effect every county employee except those at the sheriff’s office, who fall under a different retirement program. The changes would require retirees to be 55 or older to qualify for a subsidy on retiree health insurance premiums and a requirement of 25 years of service instead of 20 to qualify for the maximum subsidy amount.

Gunn said the county’s concern was that several employees would consider retiring before the changes take place in July and put the county in a bind trying to fill a glut of vacancies.

• A four-minute public hearing was conducted, as required by the state in odd-numbered years, to consider a low income property tax rebate.

Pyle said public notices were provided to various media outlets, and he hadn’t received any public communication for or against the rebate and recommended the commission take no action.

• During commission reports, Martin encouraged commissioners to be watchful of the current legislative session. Ridling said that House Bill 4, which would remove qualified immunity for government employees, would be detrimental.

Spear and Sandoval gave kudos to a vaccination clinic conducted by Roden Smith and encouraged anybody thinking about it to sign up.

“We're going to get through this,” Sandoval said. “It's still hard. We still need to wear our masks. We still have people in the hospital. Let's not give up. We've gone too far to give up.”

Pyle said anybody who has signed up through the state’s vaccine website but got vaccinated through the Roden Smith clinic should let the state know.

• In his county manager report, Pyle said 14 employees have taken out 15 loans with the TrueConnect program implemented by the county in September. Since that time, Pyle said, the county hasn’t received a single verification for a high-interest payday loan.

Pyle also said a land trust workshop is scheduled for 3 p.m. Feb. 9.

• The next meeting is scheduled for 9 a.m. Feb. 16.