Aug. 16 — Public commission needed to set salaries

Allowing the Pierce County Council to set their own salary raises is essentially the same as asking the fat kid to guard the cookie jar.

He might have the best of intentions to resist his urge to nibble. But eventually he may find homemade chocolate chip cookies far too tempting.

Perhaps that’s what happened last year when the council voted a 21 percent raise for the county executive and hefty leaps for several council members. Needless to say, Pierce County residents were surprised when council voted itself such an increase, deserved or not. Eyebrows always get raised when politicians reward themselves.

It’s a recipe for mistrust that Councilmember Calvin Goings, who voted against the pay increase last year, is hoping to overturn. He is proposing a new public commission to set the salaries of the executive, council, assessor-treasurer, sheriff, auditor and prosecuting attorney.

It’s not a novel concept — the salaries of Thurston County elected officials and Washington State’s members of the legislature, executive branch and judges are determined by citizens. The salary commision he’s proposing would have 10 volunteers — six of them picked randomly from the county’s voters and the other four selected by the executive and then approved by the council. It’s a positive plan that council members should agree to without hestitation. Getting the community involved is a good way to reduce any chance for temptation and restore their faith in who is looking out for Pierce County.