One more and the 2013 regional legislative meetings for CCAWV will be completed. We've had some lively debates at the meetings as well as several requests for a second regional jail summit this spring where commissioners can share and update each other on methods for pursuing jail cost savings. The Association will set a date for it following the 2014 legislative session.

The issue of county officials' salaries was discussed at the November legislative interims and a draft bill was presented by the committee staff. The bill was completely new to CCAWV, with no prior discussions or input from our membership. It would reduce county classifications from 10 down to 5 and impose an approximate 12% pay raise for all offices. The bill does incorporate the CCAWV idea from last year, to allow for small incremental increases (3%) every two years going forward from 2016, however the raise would be automatic instead of at the discretion of the commission. Committee members will vote Dec. 9th on whether or not to recommend the draft to the entire legislature.

The CCAWV position on county official salary increases (as determined by the entire membership) is not to support increasing salaries in 2014 due to current economic conditions in the U.S., the State, and in individual counties. Some of the other elected county officials disagree with this stance and have pooled their individual association resources to hire a lobbyist to seek a 20% salary hike, disregarding the county commissioners' position. Still, it is the responsibility of the office of county commissioner to pursue sound fiscal policy to the best of our ability, including paying the increasing costs of incarcerating inmates from the counties' limited resources. While we are pleased that many legislators seem to like the idea of small incremental increases and hope to work with them on this approach for a future increase mechanism, CCAWV remains opposed to pay raises in 2014.