COLA misunderstood


August 14, 2012 · 12:47 PM

 

A recent letter writer commented about Cost of Living Adjustments (COLA) being implemented for the City of Sammamish. The writer erroneously claims many details that just are not facts.

Cost of Living Adjustments do nothing other than ensure you salary keeps pace with inflation. To not have COLA raises means that a person who gets no raises will actually earn less and less each year.

As to his belief that COLA will put “highly compensated” workers above the industry standard is completely and utterly bogus. Anyone knows if you stay at your company for five years or longer and get only COLA level raises (2-3 percent) you will indeed fall behind the current salary for your position. Again, COLA means you make the same adjusted for the increases in the cost of living. You are merely keeping pace.

Michael T. Barr, Sammamish

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