ALFRED — Bill King was elected York County Sheriff in November and took office Jan. 1. Five months into his term, his pay remains at $78,798 ”“ the same as it was when he worked as chief deputy under his immediate predecessor former Sheriff Maurice Ouellette.

The approved county budget for 2015 sets the sheriff’s pay at $93,357.

Earlier this month, King appeared before the York County Commissioners to ask that his salary be adjusted to the 2015 budgeted amount.

“I’d like to get it settled,” he said of his salary situation. “I’d like the budgeted amount to be implemented.”

County Manager Greg Zinser pointed out that in December 2013, about a month before candidates for office could take out nomination papers, commissioners approved a pay scale for elected officials that included a range of $60,000 to $80,000 for sheriff.

“If you knew that, you shouldn’t expect more,” said Commissioner Michael Cote. King pointed out the approved budgeted amount is $93,000 for 2015. And while the 2016 county budget is not yet final, the salary figure for sheriff is proposed at $95,890 and was included as part of the overall budget voted by commissioners to be sent to the budget committee.

According to a bill sponsored by Rep. Mark Dion and approved by the Maine Legislature in 2011, salaries for county sheriffs “must be set prior to the election of a new county sheriff by the board of county commissioners by final budget approval prior to the first date that applicants may file with the Secretary of State for the office of county sheriff.” The statute goes on to say that the salary of the county sheriff may not be reduced during the sheriff’s term, other than for malfeasance or other wrongdoing.

Dion, who formerly served as Cumberland County sheriff, said he submitted the bill after hearing from Piscataquis County Sheriff John Goggin, whose salary was reduced by county commissioners there by $9,700 in 2010, before being restored.

Dion said the law not only applies to a sitting sheriff, but anyone coming in. He said the law was designed to give candidates adequate notice of what salary the job carries.

Sagadahoc County Sheriff Joel Merry, who is president of the Maine Sheriff’s Association, said the MSA supported the 2011 bill because of its concern about salaries.

“There is a law in place, obscure as it is,” Merry said. He noted that state law supersedes policy.

Merry said King is a sheriff with a “vast amount of energy and ideas.”

“I hope this doesn’t discourage him,” Merry said in a telephone interview Friday morning.

“I don’t like the attitude.; the way this is being done,” said Commissioner Cote at the May 20 County Commissioners meeting. He said King isn’t entitled to more money, “unless we say … and that is that.”

“Lets not get huffy,” said Commissioner Richard Dutremble. “Stay calm.” He pointed out that the salary range policy approved by the board for elected officials could be modified. “We did vote to override the range,” Dutremble said.

Zinser said the $93,000 salary for 2015 was for the prior sheriff, and the cited law is a matter of interpretation.

The county operates on a fiscal year, which means the 2015 budget took effect July. 1. 2014. Ouellette worked as sheriff through the end of December.

“I’m just looking for fairness,” said King. “This (discussion) is not a comfortable thing for me.”

A computer presentation King prepared that evening was unable to be seen because of technical issues, but King pointed out that the $93,000 salary is comparable to that of police chiefs in the county. The Eliot police chief, for example, earns $110,000 annually, King said.

Cote noted the rate had to be set prior to the new election.

“We decided to go with the range, and I believe we ran it by our attorney,” said Cote. “We can say yes or no on this.”

Commissioners Gary Sinden and Marston Lovell said they wanted more information and asked to see King’s presentation.

Zinser on Thursday said his office was awaiting the materials from King.

Zinser said he a had offered “different ways to accomplish” the salary, but that King didn’t agree and so Zinser advised him to go to the county commissioners.

The matter is expected to be discussed again, perhaps as soon as Wednesday’s county commissioner’s meeting.

King isn’t the only one in the sheriff’s office whose pay did not change in January. His chief deputy, Tom Baran, who began his new job on that day, is receiving the same pay rate as he did when he was a major in the department.

— Senior Staff Writer Tammy Wells can be contacted at 324-4444 (local call in Sanford) or 282-1535, ext. 327 or twells@journaltribune.com.