The board is in a difficult situation when an elected official states that the board could find someone else if he dosen’t get the increase he has asked for. I do believe that Mr. Rung is doing an overall good job and is being accountable of what he was elected to do. His reports each month are very detailed and it appears he is a good asset for the town. I also think if his position was appointed that Mr. Rung, the Town of Wirt and his family would benefit. The town would not be in the situation they had been in the previous 10 years and Mr. Rung would most likely have more security. With Mr. Rung being a working supervisor, he should never make less than the employee’s he supervises.

I also noticed that the budget showed that the assessor’s salary for 2008 was $9,750.00. The 2009 preliminary budget for the assessors is $12,500. That is an increase of 30%. I understand that John Day and Randy Harmon make $3,000.00 each and they did not ask for an increase. That leaves $3,750.00 for Alice Dunbar. I understand that Mrs. Dunbar has asked for her salary to be increased to $6,500.00. That is an increase of 73%. There could be a reason for this increase such as Mr. Harmon is not there during the hours of operation and Mr. Day is not there during the week during the hours of operation on Mondays. Alice may be entitled to the increase and the board may want to decrease the other two assessor’s salary. This is another difficult situation the board is in with 3 elected assessors. They may want to consider appointing 1 assessor for $10,000 to $12,000 a year. I think the town would receive several application for a position that is only a couple of days a week with all the Monday holidays off.

Its all about being open and fair.

As for the rest of them, with the exception of the Highway Superintendent, the taxpayers simply can’t afford pay increases during an economic crisis like this. Don’t forget, our taxes already went up significantly each of the last four years. Plus some of the pay increases requested are a joke. Concerning the Highway Superintendent’s salary, I’m sure the board will make sense of this and find some middle ground everyone can live with.