Council doesn’t want to cut pay

Puleeeeeze. After reading Thursday’s article, “Workers sacrifice under furlough,” it became clear to me that the Snohomish County Council is there to point blame on everyone and everything but themselves. The article says “Snohomish County’s elected officials won’t be agreeing to a similar deal (referencing unpaid furloughs for county workers) — because they can’t. A few years back, voters took away the County Council’s ability to determine salary for themselves and other elected officials.”

So now, because Snohomish County’s citizens saw the need to take control of the council’s voluntarily giving themselves and other county elected officials pay raises at their discretion, we’re to blame for them not following suit like other city, county and state workers who voluntarily have amended their union contracts and have given up money for the better good.

The council always seems to find a work-around for issues they, not necessarily the citizens, really want. Obviously they don’t want to find a work-around and follow in their fellow employees’ footsteps. And as for them taking a decrease in their monthly stipend for travel reimbursement (a fixed amount of all things!?), what about those county cars? Shouldn’t that be their first mode of transportation?

For me, the solution is clear: When each council member comes up for re-election I’ll remember this article and how I vote will also be clear to me.

Connie Murry

Snohomish