The Great Yakima Salary Standoff
A budget dispute between county officials and the courts threatens to leave the treasurer empty-handed and the county’s finances in limbo.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
The matter of salaries of the county officers is in a considerable muddle. The officers have been drawing their salaries on the basis of this being a county of the 22nd class, but the prosecuting attorney held that it was of the 23rd class, and Auditor Ellis issued the warrants with that understanding. The various officials refused to accept the cut and applied to Judge Bloomfield for a mandamus to compel the auditor to issue their warrants under the head of the 22nd class. This was refused by the judge, who held that, in the absence of official census returns, the report of a population of 4,466 should hold. The officers have all refused to accept their salaries on this basis, and Treasurer Kevin stated that if the cut is maintained he will resign, as he does not feel disposed to handle so much money and give a bond of $50,000 for such trifling compensation.
“Treasurer Kevin is quoted as saying that if the cut is maintained he will resign, as he does not feel disposed to handle so much money and give a bond of $50,000 for such a trifling compensation.”
Public sector salary disputes remain a perennial feature of Yakima County government, often pitting administrative budget constraints against the practical cost of retaining qualified leadership in an era of rapid population growth.
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