Madera County's top administrator is getting a pay raise

MADERA COUNTY, Calif. (KFSN) -- Madera County's top administrator is getting a pay raise. But it comes with plenty of controversy.

Eric Fleming took on the role of Madera County Administrative Officer in 2010, and supervisors say he's done an outstanding job.

Board Chairman David Rogers said, "We've done a $30 million swing from a $12 million deficit. Now we're $17 million in the black."

But they also say Fresno County officials noticed Fleming's skills and started recruiting him to take over for their retiring CAO. So staff proposed a raise from about $183 thousand a year to $214 thousand to keep Fleming from leaving.

Chowchilla resident, Susan White, said, "A raise of the proposed amount at this time is excessive, completely unfair, and it sends the wrong message to your constituents."

White and a few others spoke out against the raise during Tuesday's meeting. They say lower paid employees who have endured furloughs and increased workloads deserve more money first.

Madera County resident, Sharon Sample, said, "Let's take care of the employees because you guys keep slapping the employees in the face, saying they're not worthy."

The assistant chief for the county's department of corrections said inadequate salaries have also taken a toll on his department in the past five years.

Supervisors insist raises are also coming soon for other employees, but say they had to act fast to keep Fleming. His pay increase passed unanimously.

Rogers added, "It would cost us money to pay for recruitment. We'd have to raise the compensation level to compete anyway. We're preemptively striking that and saving the money on recruitment, putting it to a good employee who we want to keep anyway."