The Meade County Commission may get exactly what they seem to be after - new interest in participating on the county commission.
It will come at their own expense, of course, after their bold assumption that their part-time positions as Meade County Commissioners are worth $24,000 a year, an increase from their previous base salaries of $12,909.
Last week, the Meade County Commissioners had the audacity to approve an 86 percent pay increase for themselves. The generous bump makes them the highest paid commissioners in the Black Hills. Pennington County commissioners, for comparison, earn $13,200 to manage county business.
"The average person needing to work can't participate in the government process," said commissioner Dayle Hammock, one of the three to vote in favor of the raise.
They can now; and we assume they will.
A $24,000 part-time salary for an average South Dakotan is more than generous - it's about $11.50 an hour. In this state? That's good money for part-time work.
That wage won't guarantee the most qualified seek office; but, it does guarantee there will be new interest for current commission seats.
(Of course, if the Meade County Commission was really interested in participation, they would hold meetings in the evenings like so many city councils and school boards do now, rather than during busy workdays when very can take the time to attend).
That aside, county commission salaries across South Dakota could be analyzed and debated. But there's no debate surrounding an 86 percent increase - it's excessive, it's mind-boggling, it's arrogant, it's wrong.
Even in the best of budget years, such an outrageous increase would be frowned upon. This year, facing record shortfalls, unemployment and deficits, the commissioner's move just makes us scratch our heads. How could they even suggest such an increase?
The commissioner's bold assumptions of their own worth may cost them at the polls. We wonder if the overworked, underpaid, Meade County Commissioners need a rest from their busy part-time schedules and long drives to regain their senses?
Yes, they must need a rest; we can only believe the voters will give them a well-deserved one.
