The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1911-01-03
ATTORNEY GENERAL s OPINION
Commissioners Must Re-
scind the Order.
or Review For the City Can be
Fixed Only With the Beginning of
The Years Work-Reports Were
Unfoundcd.

The county commissioners have
been informed upon the authority OF
the attorney general of the state, that
the action which they took in reduc-
ing the salaries of the members of the
board of review for the, city, from five
dollars to $3.50 per day, was not reg
ular and that cannot stand.
A few days ago the board of COM
missoners determined to reduce the
pay of the members Of the board of
review and without further ado made
the cut. No reason was given at the
time for the reduction. When asked
by "a member of the board of review
why 1t had been done, the commits
sioner stated that it had been con-
sidered ever since the quadrennial ap-
praisers for the city had put up such
kick when their salaries were fixed
at $3.50 instead of five dollars per
day as had been expected. At that
time the appraisers pointed to the sal
airy which was being paid to the
boards of review members as proof
of their claim that five dollars per day
was not out Of reason, holding that
their services were just as valuable
to the city and county as were the SER
vices of the members of the board Of
review. The matter had been allowed
| to drag along with the commissioners,
| with the old salary prevailing for the
| members of the board of equalization
or review until "A few days ago when
the reduction was made.
The matter was taken up with the
state auditor by the board of review
and County Auditor G.. l.. Allen. The
state auditor gave the board an opin'
| ion which was handed down by the
attorney general in a parallel case
| which was decided In the courts some
| time ago. This opinion is to the ef-
feet that the board of commissioners
has the power to fix the salaries of
the members of the board of review
at the beginning OF each year and
that once having fixed the salary for
the year it cannot be changed during
the year. This is in accordance with
the rule which does not permit al
officials salary being increased or de-
creased during his term of office. The
opinion holds that the salary of the
board members was fixed at the TIM
they began work for the year and tha
it can neither be raised nor lowered
until the time for fixing the salaries
for the next year.
Some of the members of the boarC
of review held a conference Monday
with the county commissioners AM
presented the matter TO them with tn
result that the order which was mad
some days ago will probably be re
scinded and the board will be per
mitted TO draw the salary of five dol
lars per day, at least until the begin
? ming of the next years work, in April
! The county commissioners Monda
2 disclaimed all knowledge of an erro
! which was alleged to have been mad
by the board of review and stated tina
reports Of that sort had no bearin
G whatever upon the action taken b
r them. They stated that they had me
e with the board of review only once
, when the city and county boards @
; review held "a short conference to dc
( termlne what should be done with tn
y land values i'm the county and tina
they knew nothing of the manner l
5 which tho city board was working
!. They also disclaimed making tn
e statement thar the board of revie
n for the city was making the clerk
S do all the work while the member
II looked on.