Nevada County governance thrives only when it operates on trust — trust that staff are forthright, that transparency is not feared but embraced, and that accountability is a tool for improvement, not a weapon to be avoided. Senior county officials must resist the easy temptation to rationalize dishonesty for the sake of short-term gains.

In a move that has left taxpayers clutching their wallets and laughing through the tears, Nevada County Executive Alison Lehman and her trusty Board of Supervisors have greenlit a $75,000 contract with Bryce Consulting, Inc., to “survey” their compensation. Because apparently, the only thing more critical than affordable housing or higher wages for lower-level county staff is figuring out if Lehman’s nearly half million-dollar annual compensation package comes with enough gold stars.

A 42% payroll expense in one year with big percentage raises each year is unsustainable, especially in light of the downturn in state funding. Given the outrageously high salaries of senior executive staff and elected officials, the tax-paying public is questioning the rationale of the Nevada County CEO Alison Lehman.

As fiduciaries of the Public Trust, the supervisors must always display honesty, integrity, and good faith toward their constituents, the People. My feeling is that Hardy Bullock, Sue Hoek, Heidi Hall, and Ed Scofield have failed their constituents in this area. Hall and Bullock touted that they did fact-check the salary comparisons, but this is possible when you line up the comparative counties.

Alison Lehman (CEO of Nevada County, California) makes more than Gavin Newsom (Governor of the State of California).