Oakland County Democratic commissioners approve pay raises, GOP members object

The GOP board members, as you might expect, opposed the proposal. When the Oakland County Commissioners decided to give themselves a 21% pay hike on December 12, there wasn’t much debate.

FOX 2, Oakland Park, Mich.Following a vote by Democratic board members to give themselves a sizable raise, Oakland County commissioners will soon get pay increases.

The measure was opposed by the GOP board members. When the Oakland County Commissioners decided to give themselves a 21% pay hike on December 12, there wasn’t much debate.

Commissioners currently earn little more than $45,000 for their part-time work, but beginning of January 1, the new raises will increase their base pay to $55,000.

“I don’t think it’s a good example to set,” conservative Commissioner Bob Hoffman of Oakland County stated.

Along party lines, the vote was 11 to 5. Hoffman did not support the raises.

“I thoroughly love this job, though, because I think it’s a position where you can actually help people,” he stated. “So to me, it’s not about the money.”

According to Commission Chair Dave Woodward, the Wayne County Commissioner will earn $72,000 and the Macomb County Commissioner will earn $47,000 in 2025.

“What do you say to Dave Woodward who was promoting this, saying that county commissioners should be paid $55,000?” questioned Charlie Langton of FOX 2.

“He’s entitled to his opinion,” Hoffman said.

In a statement, Woodward said: “Considering the work required to best serve on the governing body of a county of 1.3 million people these salaries are reasonable and proportional to similar roles in the area and across the state.”

Charlie Langton questioned, “Are you going to accept the money even though you voted it down?”

Hoffman answered, “Yes, but I give a lot of money to a lot of different causes.”

Up to 2028, the commissioners’ pay will likewise increase by roughly 1% annually.

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