Few in the private sector are expecting to get raises this year. Those who have jobs are mostly just happy to be employed. Many who work in the public sector for the taxpayers, however, are hoping to get cost of living raises and that is the case with Willacy County elected officials.

A public hearing will be held on the proposed 2010-2011 salary increases for elected officials on Monday, Sept. 13, at 9 a.m. in the Commissioners Courtroom, 576 W. Main St., in Raymondville.

The proposed salary schedule is printed in its entirety elsewhere in this newspaper. You can be certain that if the elected officials get raises this year the rank-and-file county workers will also get pay increases.

Meanwhile, city governments in Raymondville and Lyford are not planning any employee pay increases due to what they deem to be rock bottom budgets with no money for raises, or machinery and equipment.

The county judge job next year will pay total compensation of $56,945 up from $55,970 this year, or an increase of $975.

County commissioners, however, will jump from $24,951 to $26,899 total compensation, up $1,948.

The county sheriff's total compensation will increase from $39,561 to $41,119, an increase of $1,558.

The district clerk, county clerk and county treasurer will enjoy increases in pay from $$34,l00 to $35,464, $1,364 more than this year.

Justices of the Peace in Pcts., l, 3& 4 will increase total compensation from $l9,600 to $21,500, a raise of $1,900, while Justices of the Peace in Pcts. 2 and 5 will see their pay checks go up from $22,800 to $24,700, also a $1,900 pay increase.

All four Constables will get a $1,300 raise from total compensation of $13,600 to $14,900.

Plans for a county tax increase, if any, have not been revealed.