The Gazette documents county pay raises that beat inflation threefold. Nice work if you can get it.

According to council staff director Steve Farber, salaries for members of [Gino] Renne’s union [United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1994/Municipal and County Government Employees Organization] increased by 96 percent from 1999 to 2009. That percentage represents increases from cost of living adjustments and scheduled annual raises. During the same time period, the cost of living within Montgomery County increased 36.6 percent, Farber said.

In just the most recent three-year contract period, which ends this fiscal year, salaries have been increasing at 7 percent to 8 percent each year. Health benefits are also extremely generous, with the county paying 80 percent of insurance premiums for MCGEO members; employees of the school system have, on average, 90 percent of their premiums paid by their employer.

Read the full editorial at the Gazette »

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