County salaries rank in top half of state

BROOKSVILLE –
Hernando County’s elected officials’ salaries are in the top half of the state when compared to the rest of Florida.

Out of 67 counties, Hernando placed 27th in salaries for county commissioners, circuit court clerk, property appraiser, tax collector, elections supervisor, sheriff and school board members.

Hernando County commissioners get $62,523 annually, a $1,423 increase from last year’s salary of $61,100.

According to the state’s office of economic and demographic research, every elected official in Hernando County received pay increases for this most recent fiscal year, which began last Oct. 1 and runs through Sept. 30.

The county clerk, property appraiser, sheriff and tax collector saw $831 salary hikes. The Supervisor of Elections’ pay increased $791. Elected school board members saw a $263 annual increase.

The state has determined that the county’s school superintendent (if elected) would make $120,587. However, being appointed, Superintendent Bryan Blavatt’s negotiated salary is $130,000 annually.

Commissioners’ salaries, along with those of the five elected constitutional officers, are set by the state and differ from county to county, depending on population and size of jurisdiction.

County Commissioner Dave Russell said it is the constitutional officer’s $100,000-plus salaries that drive up Hernando County’s ranking.

He would challenge them to give up their pay hikes, as he and other county commissioners have done, Russell said.

“Just because they are entitled to the raises does not mean they have to accept them,” he said.

Sheriff Al Nienhuis did not accept the annual raise due him (totalling $129,183) and has kept his salary flat at $128,045 during the last two fiscal years.

County Commission Chairman Wayne Dukes said he found the salary statistics interesting but because the state sets the numbers, there is little that can be done about it on the local level.

Except, that is, refusing the pay hike and giving it back to the county.

“I didn’t take the raise,” he said.

The highest paid commissioners ($92,097) are in Hillsborough, Broward, Miami-Dade and Orange counties.

Lowest-paid commissioners ($23,555) are in Liberty County.

Here’s a look at the salaries for the county’s elected Constitutional officers (with last year’s numbers in parenthesis):

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