MCSD deputy pay - how set?

Recently, total wages paid to deputy supervisors by the McHenry County Sheriff's Department came to light. They were reported on a new blog created by the campaign of Zane Seipler, Republican candidate for Sheriff of McHenry County in the February 2, 2010, primary election.

To see the number of $100,000 pay packages (plus benefits), go to http://www.mcsdexposed.blogspot.com/

FirstElectricNewspaper (FEN), at http://www.firstelectricnewspaper.com/, reported on December 31, 2009, a comment by Sheriff Nygren regarding the wages disclosed on MCSDExposed.

FEN reported, "As far as supervisors' pay goes, Nygren told FEN Wednesday, 'Those salaries are determined by the County Board.' Nygren said the Sheriff's office has to maintain competitive pay, "otherwise you end up training officers and then they go somewhere else."

It's important to understand what "determined" means there. Here's what I believe it does NOT mean.

The County Board does not review the individual salaries of County employees; for example, deputies. The County Board does not make a decision on who, individually, gets a raise or who does not. The County Board does not determine how much of a raise, if any, that any one employee (deputy) gets.

Now, if the County Board "determined" salaries, isn't that what it would do?

The deputies are unionized. Their contract is negotiated. Their pay is negotiated. When deputies at the bottom of the pile get a raise, everybody else's pay goes up. The pay of the more senior deputies goes up; sergeants' pay goes up; lieutenants' pay goes up; captains' pay goes .... You guessed it; up. And I'll bet even the Undersheriff gets a bump in pay.

What is the County Board's role in this process?

When the Sheriff's takes the pay package to the Board, they approve it. All of it. Rubber-stamp.

If the County Board merely rubber-stamps its approval on the pay packet, does that mean they "determined" it? Not by a long shot.

So, why would Nygren tell FEN that the County Board "determined" salaries?

Pay attention, folks! Start asking questions. Don't take answers at face value.