County council members consider salary increase, insurance benefits
by Steve Kadel
staff writer
Nov 15, 2012 | 2368 views | 0 0 comments | 10 10 recommendations | email to a friend | print
Grand County Council members are scheduled to vote on raising their salaries and becoming eligible for full county benefits when the council meets Tuesday, Nov. 20.

Both proposals were postponed from the April 3 agenda. Grand County Human Resources Director Orlinda Robertson said during the Nov. 7 meeting she was instructed by council members to research salaries of comparable counties and found a “slight increase” is needed here.

The proposal would raise council members’ pay by $423 per year – from $8,400 to $8,823. That increase amounts to just more than $35 per month.

It also would make council members eligible for the Grand County public employee benefit package, which includes medical, dental and vision coverage as well as life and disability insurance. That cost to the county would be a combined $91,643 per year for all seven council members, Robertson noted.

“[Moab] City Council members do get this and the city pays for it,” she said, adding that, like county council members, city council members do not receive a pension or 401(k) contribution.

In response to a question from council member Jim Nyland, Robertson said members could choose to waive any part of the benefit package. Nyland said he receives medical coverage, but not dental insurance, through the Veterans Administration.

If the proposal passes, the changes would not be retroactive. Salary increases and insurance benefits would begin Jan. 1, 2013.
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