Proposal Offers Pay Raises for County’s Top Officials

ORANGE COUNTY — Orange County’s top government officials, including the district attorney, sheriff and treasurer, would get pay increases of as much as 19% under a proposal to be considered Tuesday by the Board of Supervisors.

Officials maintain that the increases, which cover 4,200 employees, are needed to make the county more attractive for high-level managers and other workers, said Jan Walden, assistant chief executive officer for human resources. The cost is $4.5 million and is included in the county’s proposed 2000-01 budget.

Sheriff Mike Carona, Public Defender Carl Holmes, Dist. Atty. Tony Rackauckas and County Counsel Laurence M. Watson would get the largest boosts, $19,656 annually, bringing their salaries to $156,166 a year.

Assessor Webster Guillory and Auditor-Controller David Sundstrom would each take home an additional $16,349 a year under the plan, for annual salaries of $129,958.

The county’s 101 executive managers would be eligible for raises that would bring their maximum compensation to as much as $191,401, from $160,000.

Supervisors are eligible for a $5,600 pay hike under the plan, bringing them to $97,822 a year. Most of the new salaries would take effect June 30.

Walden said the county lags behind other large counties in compensating its managers and specialized employees.