CAPE COUNTY PAY COMMISSION TO MEET ON POSSIBLE SALARY HIKES

JACKSON - The Cape Girardeau County Pay Commission will meet again April 12 to consider whether to increase salaries for elected officials.

The group met on March 22 but did not take any action because it needed some legal issues resolved by Prosecuting Attorney Morley Swingle.

Presiding Commissioner Gene Huckstep said the prosecutor indicated he could have all issues researched by April 12, so the meeting was set for 8:45 a.m. in the county commission's chambers.

At the meeting last week, Huckstep was elected chairman of the pay commission.

Under state law, the pay commission is required to meet in odd-numbered years.

The commission sets salaries for most elected officials. Each official must get the same percentage increase, and no official can receive an increase in pay until after starting a new term in office.

Most county elected officials are members of the pay commission. Judges, the circuit court clerk, the coroner and public administrator are not members.

Even though he is not a member of the pay commission, Public Administrator John Ferguson's salary is set by the group. At the last meeting he asked the commission to increase his base salary from $4,000 to $10,000 in following a new state law. Public administrators can draw a base salary, plus fees.

Ferguson contended that the new law is written in such a way that public administrators can have their pay increased during the current term, if it is approved this year.

Huckstep said that is one of the legal issues they want the prosecuting attorney to research.

Cape County elected officials have not had pay increases since 1987, when the present legislation took effect creating the pay commissions as the group to set salaries.