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Despite the recession, the Sarpy County Board had an easy time Tuesday setting 2.5 percent annual pay raises for six county officeholders whose jobs are on the ballot next November.
Deciding a raise for the county surveyor was not so simple.
In 2008, the Federal Highway Administration withdrew $6.9 million from a Sarpy project overseen by the office, an extension of 96th Street.
Federal funds were pulled after longtime surveyor Tom Lynam did not respond to state and federal requests for information on land acquisitions.
Because Sarpy County already had spent the money and the road was finished, the county had to raise money to pay back the feds, issuing bonds.
“The county had to borrow more than $6 million, and then we also have to pay another $340,000 in interest,” said Pat Thomas, one of two board members who opposed the raise for the County Surveyor's Office. “The county attorney said there was no criminal act. ... Well, who's to blame?
“We are not suing the state. So someone's holding the bag, and that's the taxpayers.”
In the end, the board approved a raise for the surveyor to match the six other elected offices they discussed, 3-2. The other increases were approved 4-1.
If re-elected, Lynam's salary would increase by about $2,350, to more than $96,000.
The pay increase for each office takes effect for the next four-year term, which begins in 2011. Getting the raises are the assessor, sheriff, register of deeds, county clerk, district court clerk, surveyor and treasurer.
Under Nebraska law, a pay raise for an elected official can take place only in the next term, so elected officials are not voting to give themselves pay increases.
“I really don't have a problem with Tom,” said board member Rich Jansen of rural Gretna. “ ... I am well-pleased with the service of that department. I don't have a problem treating him equally.”
Jansen's colleagues, Thomas and Joni Jones, vehemently disagreed but ended up on the losing end of a split decision to freeze Lynam's pay for four years.
Thomas said his rationale was “nothing personal.”
Rather, Thomas said, Lynam does not deserve a pay raise in light of the 96th Street debacle, which cost Sarpy County taxpayers millions, plus interest payments for the bonds.
This March, a state report outlined numerous procedural violations that led federal authorities to yank project funding.
Board members Rusty Hike and Tom Richards, both of Bellevue, joined Jansen in agreeing to give whomever occupies Lynam's office an annual pay raise over the next four-year term.
“This is setting the salaries for the surveyor's office, not Tom Lynam,” Richards said.
After the meeting, Lynam told The World-Herald that he plans to seek re-election next year. In 2006, Lynam, a Republican, ran unopposed. He has worked in the office for more than 20 years.
He said he was pleased that the board decided not to punish his office with a four-year freeze.
In other action Tuesday, the board postponed discussion on pay raises for the county attorney until its Nov. 17 meeting, at the county attorney's request.
County Attorney Lee Polikov initially pushed for a one-time, $20,000 salary increase for his office, starting in 2011.
He has said he plans to run again when his term is up in 2010. Without any change, the salary for his position in 2010 is slotted at $108,820. Winning re-election would make Polikov eligible for any raise the county approves.
Contact the writer:
444-1056, john.ferak@owh.com
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