KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) – Kalamazoo County commissioners have tentatively voted to give themselves a big raise next year. It is less than had been proposed, but still a lot more than most other workers will see.
There had been initial support to more than double their salaries from $19,000 to $40,000, but after public opposition, board members Jeff Heppler, Wendy Mazer and Dale Deleeuw expressed discomfort with that number.
Even vice chair John Taylor, who first pitched the idea, was having second thoughts.
Commissioner Jen Strebs proposed as a compromise the same amount their lowest paid full time worker gets, about $15.90/hour.
That’s still about a 73% hike over what board members currently make, far higher than the 4% increase the rest of the county’s staff will be getting next year.
Six commissioners voted for the compromise; the three others thought it was too high.
Those numbers won’t be locked in until the board takes a final vote on their 2025 budget in two weeks.
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