Hennepin County Commissioners took a step back during a vote Tuesday to approve a bump in pay for themselves of about $60,000 amid criticism from the public.
After strong public opposition, Commissioner Chair Irene Fernando, who authored the proposal, decided to withdraw the measure.
"I am making a motion to withdraw, which will allow other commissioners to generate compensation methodologies that may be more palatable," Fernando said Tuesday.
Fernando was seeking a 49% salary increase that would have increased salaries from more than $122,000 a year to more than $182,000.
A current state statute allows the board to give themselves raises without a cap on what the amount of those raises can be.
Political analyst David Shultz of Hamline University says the move was very controversial, especially during an election year.
"This was a bad timing for Hennepin County, both to do the raise or at least the scope of the raise, because there are a lot of people struggling," Schultz explains. "And with the economy already on their minds, I think this becomes an issue that they're going to think about this November."
Shultz says with a spotlight now on the issue he wouldn't be surprised if a proposed policy change comes up in next year'ss legislative session.
County officials noted in their initial decision to increase salaries that Hennepin County Sheriff Dawanna Witt and Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty will also receive raises, as they are some of the lowest paid in the region for their respective positions.
Schultz says the move was particularly puzzling as the group are among the highest-paid county commissioners in the state.
"It's a classic what we would call a case of log rolling at this point, rolling some stuff that might not be very popular along with some stuff that might be more popular and hope that the public goes along with it," says Schultz.