Atwater Mayor backtracking after Facebook post about county leaders salaries 'raping taxpayers'

ATWATER, Calif. (KFSN) -- From his seat on the City Council, to posts on social media, Mayor Jim Price is vocal about his beliefs. And his most recent outburst drew the attention of the Merced County Board of Supervisors.

Merced County Board of Supervisors Chairman Daron McDaniel said, "When the word rape was used, for me, I take that serious."

McDaniel is talking about a Facebook post where the mayor said the Board of Supervisors' high salaries were raping taxpayers. Mayor Price said he regrets his language but not the point he was trying to make.

"I believe that it's excessive, and that opinion I think is shared throughout the community."

Just last month, the Board received a 1.36 percent increase to boost their salaries to $103,000. The Mayor said the raise comes at a time the Sheriff's Office is having trouble hiring deputies.

"Supervisors get compensated very well, the Sheriff's Department does not, and their numbers of deputies show that," said Price.

Supervisors do not vote on their own pay in Merced County. Their salary is linked to how much judges make and McDaniel does not believe he is overpaid.

"If you would just reach out and talk to us, we could explain further, he could get down to more information. Instead he uses Facebook as the bullying pulpit."

McDaniel said he still welcomes the Mayor to come talk to him about it.