Bill would boost Cape County treasurer's pay

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- The Cape Girardeau County treasurer could get a nearly $4,000 a year pay increase under legislation intended to bring the officeholder's salary closer in line with compensation given to other elected county officials.

The bill would allow the county's salary commission to hold a special meeting this year to consider raising the treasurer's annual pay to $51,000 -- the base amount authorized in state law for treasurers in first-class counties. The House Local Government Committee held a hearing on the measure Thursday.

When Cape Girardeau County attained first-class status in 1997, the base salaries of most countywide elected officials were boosted accordingly. However, the treasurer was excluded.

"Somewhere along the line it wasn't done right," said Gerald Jones, the presiding county commissioner.

Because of a quirk in the law, the county missed its only opportunity to adjust the treasurer's base pay. However, the treasurer is entitled to any annual cost of living increases at the same percentage rate approved for all county employees.

While most other elected county officials currently earn between $55,000 and $59,000 a year, Cape Girardeau County Treasurer Bill Reynolds' annual salary is $47,074. Reynolds has announced he will not run for re-election to the position this year.

The job of the treasurer in a first-class county is to manage county accounts. The treasurer writes checks as directed by the county commission.

The bill authorizing an increase is sponsored by state Reps. Jason Crowell of Cape Girardeau and Scott Lipke of Jackson.

"I'm not saying anything one way or another on whether the treasurer should get a pay raise," Crowell said. "This would just give the salary commission the discretion."

The salary commission, which consists of all county elected officials, is authorized to meet in only odd-numbered years under existing law to consider pay issues.

Jones said the commission attempted to address the issue of the treasurer in 2003 but discovered it was legally precluded from doing so.

Because the Missouri Constitution bars public officials from receiving mid-term pay hikes, the salary commission would have to act this year in order for the treasurer to receive a pay boost starting in 2005. With Reynolds up for re-election to another four-year term in November, if action isn't taken this year he would have to wait until 2009 to be eligible for the pay hike.

If the legislation becomes law, Jones said he expects the salary commission to endorse the salary adjustment.

The bill, which would apply only to Cape Girardeau County, is HB 1128.

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