Grant PUD approves salary increase

EPHRATA - Grant County PUD commissioners approved this week a $400 per month salary increase for future commissioners.

The increase starts when each commissioner is re-elected to their position, according to the resolution.

The increase comes after the state Legislature changed state law and amended commissioner compensation rates. So commissioners salaries now match the state law.

Grant PUD Commissioner Bob Bernd said the commissioners' salaries haven't been adjusted for 10 years.

To his knowledge, other public utilities approved the increase for themselves months ago, Bernd said.

Commissioners previously received a salary of $1,400 per month. With the new increase, commissioners will see a monthly salary of $1,800 per month upon re-election and any cost of living adjustments, the resolution states.

Commissioners Tom Flint, Terry Brewer and Bernd voted in favor of the resolution. Commissioner Greg Hansen voted against the increase. Commissioner Randy Allred abstained from voting.

Hansen said serving as a commissioner isn't about earning a salary or wages, just as long as car expenses and other expenses are covered to attend functions.

"I don't feel right asking for wages in this job," Hansen said.

He termed the position as that as public service, not as something done for wages or income, Hansen added.

Bernd said he agreed with Hansen in that serving as a commissioner isn't about the salary. None of the commissioners are serving to get $1,800 per month, Bernd said.

In part, Bernd also said he thinks the increase is to reimburse expenses not reimbursed, such as lost time.

Allred said after his last re-election campaign, he didn't think he would get his investment back, win or lose.

Brewer pointed out commissioners have to be reelected to receive the pay raise, so no one's voting themselves a raise.