Neunder stresses taxpayers’ burdens and concern for lower-level county workers
As the Sarasota County commissioners this week stressed their need to reduce the county’s budgets over the coming fiscal years, Chair Joe Neunder brought up an issue that he indicated has proven controversial among his constituents: the salaries of the directors of the county’s departments and the raises those directors have been receiving on an annual basis.
Noting that he had requested a list of the salaries, Neunder pointed out during the commission’s Aug. 19 budget workshop, “Last year was a great year for department directors.” Their raises, he said, ranged from $8,000 to $16,000.
“That’s very generous, Jonathan,” he told County Administrator Jonathan Lewis. “And, presumably, they’ve earned that money.”…