The Pima County Board of Supervisors voted along party lines to extend County Administrator Chuck Huckelberry's contract for another four years.
The new contract includes a $8,000 raise, increasing annual base salary to $288,000.
With other financial benefits that are part of his contract, he makes about $326,865, according to county records.
Also included in the new contract is a $550 monthly car allowance. Under his old contract, Huckelberry was issued a county vehicle.
Newly-elected Supervisor Steve Christy, a Republican, criticized the process to renew Huckelberry's contract.
"It is totally alien to me," he said, comparing to his private sector experience.
"What makes you think you deserve a raise? Christy asked, then challenging Huckelberry to explain how the county would find the money to pay for the raise.
Supervisor Richard ElΓas, a Democrat, said he respects Huckelberry but doesn't always agree with him β specifically noting the controversial plan involving Monsanto building a greenhouse on the northwest side.
He said Huckelberry's contract is a political issue, pointing out that Christy campaigned on a promise to fire him if electied.
ElΓas said Huckelberry is under constant scrutiny, not just every four years.
"Frankly, he is under review every week," ElΓas said
ElΓasΒ praised him as a high functioning professional with decades of institutional knowledge.
Supervisor Ramon Valadez reminded the audience that Huckelberry kept the county running during hard economic times, without resorting to large property tax rate increases.
He conceded there were increases but labeled them as stable, predictable increases.
Comparing Pima County to other counties isn't fair, he argued. If Pima County was a city β it would be the fifth largest in the state, he said.
Supervisor Ally Miller, a Republican, raised a number of concerns about Huckelberry's contract.
"I believe the salary package is way out of line," Miller said, citing the average salary for county administrator nationwide is significantly lower.
Miller added that under Huckelberry's leadership, the county has failed to keep its promise to sheriff deputies about pay increases, failed to fix roads and oversaw significant increases on the new courthouse.
Kevin Kubitskey, chairman of the deputy sheriff's association, asked the supervisors to reject the contract.
"The continued support of Mr. Huckelberry by the Board of Supervisors is directly damaging to the morale of our members of the department, and our faith in Pima County leadership. Change is hard, but it is what people want right now," Kubitskey wrote in a two-page statement given to the board.
