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KIRKSVILLE, MO -- Pay for public officials was the topic during the Tuesday meeting of the Adair County Salary Commission.

The Commission met back in October to discuss raises for public officials of Adair County. The elected officials asked to table the discussion to look over the end of the year budget and propose budgets for next year.

The last couple of weeks they have looked over and reviewed the sales taxes that have been collected thus far. There has been an increase in those sales taxes since 2010. The property taxes were also looked at, and it appears those numbers are also higher than 2010. The county and it's financials look to be in good shape as of now. Adair County is fortunate that they have not been affected by things that surrounding counties have been affected by.

The elected officials in the Salary Commission elected to make a recommendation to the Adair County Commissioners. They are asking them to seriously consider and provide a cost of living adjustment for the Adair County employees. The base salary pay for the elected officials will stay the same.

The recommendation is not official. It is up to the disgretion of the Commission to decide whether or not to grant the cost of living adjustment to the employees and elected officials. The cost of living can be anywhere from 0.0-3.6%.

The elected officials can participate up to 3.6%. If the Commission grants for example a 5% increase in the cost of living to the employees, the elected officials would only receive a 3.6% cost of living increase.  If for example the Commission only grants the employees a 2% cost of living increase, then the elected officials would only receive 2%.

The elected officials consist of the Recorder, County Clerk, Sheriff, Commissioners, Collector, Treasurer, Assessor, Public Administrator and Coroner. The Circuit Judge, Associate Judge, Circuit Clerk and Prosecuting Attorney are not affected by this cost of living adjustment. They are guided by other state statutes.

Sheriff Robert Hardwick, Adair County Assessor Donny Waybill and Commissioner Carson Adams voted against giving any pay increase to elected county officials. The three who voted against the increase for elected officials added they are in favor of salary increases for other county employees.