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- The Madera Tribune

Some may question the fact that the Board of Supervisors salaries have doubled in a period of seven years. They rose from $28,749 in 1997 to $57,535 currently.

However, some may say that the salaries are comparable to other counties and are justified for the work entailed.

Madera Deputy Sheriff's Association Vice-president Ryan Cosyns wants to know why the supervisors have accepted raises during a time when the county is cutting or freezing positions of sheriff's officers, probation officers, parole officers and correctional officers.

"I think he needs to be honest about the doubling of their salaries. I don't think they can justify what they have done with their salary," Cosyns said.

Silva recently ran for the supervisor's seat against Max Rodriguez. The two men took part in a forum which included them, city council candidates and Madera Unified School District board of trustee candidates.

Cosyns said he was really shocked by the statement Supervisor John Silva made during the forum at the Madera County Library.

"I don't vote for my own wage, the State of California does. I didn't come here looking for a job for $57,000," Silva said when questioned about the salary increases.

Cosyns said the fact that the supervisors' salary increases are linked to the judges is questionable.

During the forum, Silva said he gives a large amount of money back to the people he serves in District 4.

"I give a big portion back to my youth groups and my senior citizens. I provide Christmas toys to the kids and food baskets to the less fortunate," Silva said.

Supervisors' salaries vary throughout the state. Fresno County supervisors' salaries top off at $83,870, Kern County supervisors at $80,210, Tulare County at $71,961 (last year), Stanislaus County at $62,400, Merced County at $53,238, Kings County at $51,624, Nevada County at $34,121, Sutter County at $32,496, Tuolumne County at $29,526 and Yuba County at $21,636.

"The supervisors found it combersome and uncomfortable to address their salaries on an annual basis," County Administrative Officer Stell Manfredi said.

They tied their salaries to the Superior Court Judges. Whenever the judges receive a raise from the state, the supervisor's receive an increase of 40 percent of what the judges receive, Manfredi said.

Cosyns said he wants to know why the supervisors have continued to increase their pay when Madera County deputy sheriffs' salaries have continued to dwindle compared to other counties in California.

"We actually had an officer whose family received WIC," Cosyns said. "If I have one more child we will qualify for WIC. It's hard to believe."

Women Infants and Children (WIC) is a federal program which provides food, nutrition counseling and access to health services to low-income women, infants and children.

Currently Madera County deputy sheriffs max out their salaries at $32,100. Stanislaus County deputies max out at $45,444, Fresno deputies at $44,508, Nevada deputies at $37,980, Merced deputies at $37,896, Yuba deputies at $36,540, Tulare deputies at $36,264, Kern deputies at $35,964, Sutter deputies at $35,172, Kings deputies at $34,740 and Tuolumne deputies at $34,164.