PORT ANGELES — Clallam County employees who agreed to concessions in 2011 will get a chunk of that money back next week.
Two of the three county commissioners Tuesday approved a debatable budget emergency that includes a $482,559 medical benefit concession refund.
Three years ago, nearly all county employees volunteered to pay an amount equal to their 2012 contractually guaranteed cost-of-living raise to the employer portion of their medical benefits.
Workers also agreed to 16 unpaid furlough days in 2012 and 2013 in anticipation of costly murder trials.
Full-time employees who volunteered concessions will receive a onetime payment averaging $1,500 to $1,600 next Wednesday, County Administrator Jim Jones said.
That money comes from a $500,000 payment that the county received from the state in July for the extraordinary expense of the 2013 Darold Stenson double-murder trial.
Board Chairman Mike Chapman opposed the move, saying he would vote against the 2015 budget because of his colleagues’ support for the budget emergency.
“Honestly, after talking to a number of people, including representatives of the state, really it was not the state’s intention that this is how the money be used,” Chapman said.
“There are representatives of state government that are not pleased with this decision. And some may be actually looking into the legality of it as a gift of public funds. So we’ll see where that goes.
“But good luck,” Chapman added.
“Good luck with the budget. Good luck next year living within the budget. Certainly elected officials and the department heads should join the rest of us who are sitting up here and not accept this money. But that’s for you to decide.”
Chapman, Jones and Commissioner Jim McEntire have said they would not accept the onetime payment for themselves.
Commissioner Mike Doherty, who retires at the end of this month, said board members have until Thursday or Friday to decide whether to take the payment.
Unaccepted payments will not be spread out among the county’s workforce.
“That money would just not be spent,” Jones said.
Two people involved in the union negotiations were told that money they volunteered to give up as part of the concession package would be given back, Doherty said.
“Revisionist history,” Chapman replied.
“You weren’t there.”
Said Doherty: “No, but two people who were told me that’s what the representation was.”
As a result of the refund, Chapman said he would not support budget emergencies next year.
“I think it’s a really sad day, a sad day for the taxpayer, a sad day for the community that continues to hurt,” Chapman said.
“I want no part of this decision.”
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5072, or at rollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
