How much do elected officials really make?

Sheriff Susan Benton's base salary is $123,129.

State Rep. Denise Grimsley's base salary is $29,697.

Does that mean a sheriff does four times the work, or is worth four times as much as a state legislator?

"Gosh, we know how important it is to keep law and order," said Chester Downing, a Sebring teacher and athletic director who retired last year. "What would we do without it?"

There's another part of that story, however. In total compensation, Benton drew $174,701 in 2009.

Grimsley and Baxter Troutman, who represents the Avon Park and north Sebring area, also received a raft of other benefits:

•The Legislature pays health, dental, disability, and life insurance premiums

•Two staff members, who also get free health, dental, disability, and life insurance

•$2,482 a month in intra-district expenses to operate the office

•Up to $9,750 a year expense account

•Up to $10,000 per year for the office, from excess campaign funds

•$133 per day subsistence for regular and special sessions

•Travel expenses from the member's home to the Capitol, once a week

•Travel expenses for meetings of House councils or committees

•44.5 cents per mile for travel by automobile, or travel by aircraft "at the most economical rate available"

•$80 per diem (per day), when the member is away from the official headquarters overnight

•Travel expenses for staff

No sunshine

It is unknown exactly what Grimsley, Troutman and Sen. J.D. Alexander, R-Lake Wales, were paid.

Alexander didn't respond by press time to a Feb. 12 written request and a Feb. 23 phone and e-mail request for his salary. He did call on Feb. 25, apologized, and explained that he had been busy.

Jill Chamberlin, communications director for the House speaker's office, answered for Grimsley and Troutman, but did not furnish an annual amount for 2009.

County officers are required by the Florida freedom of information act to respond, but Chamberlin said the House and Senate are not bound by that rule, even though the Legislature passed the Government in the Sunshine Law.

However, it's clear that when adding subsistence, per diem, retirement and other perks, annual legislative pay and reimbursements exceed $100,000.

"That's amazing, I did not know that," said Rick Ingler, who serves on the county Planning and Zoning Commission.

As for the sheriff, Ingler said the county is getting what it is paying for.

"I would have to say yes. When you consider the amount of her budget and her staff, her counterpart in a civilian position would be paid more than that. I don't know where she got so good," Ingler said. Benton, he said, is an executive, and should be compensated at that level.

Highlands County

The salaries of constitutional officers - the sheriff, elections supervisor, court clerk, property assessor and tax collector, plus the county commissioners and school board members - are calculated by the Florida Legislative Committee on Intergovernmental Relations, based on population.

For the past year, Downing has been to most county commission meetings, and knows the constitutional officers by sight. However, he's never met his state legislators.

"I went to the legislative meeting (in December 2009), and that was the only time I've ever seen Baxter Troutman. I've never seen Sen. Alexander. And I don't really know Denise Grimsley."

During budget discussions last year, Downing was one of a dozen local citizens who spoke out in county commission meetings. His concern isn't the disparity between legislators and county sheriffs.

"It's between the top and the bottom," Downing said.

When the county commissioners began cutting jobs last year, most of the layoffs were line workers.

"Why can't the people at the top take a pay cut?" he asked. "We have to put people first, and not projects."

If the Legislature listened to him, they would pass a law that allowed commissioners to cut their own pay by 25 percent, Downing said.

"Allowing each to voluntarily take the cut. They would each have their choice," Downing said. "That would be the greatest example of leadership."

How much do they earn?

Elected official2009 Salary

State Sen. JD Alexander $30,336

State Rep. Denise Grimsley $29,697

State Rep. Baxter Troutman $29,697

Clerk of Courts Bob Germaine $112,923

Elections Supervisor Joe Campbell $96,853

Property Appraiser Raymond McIntyre $114,438

Tax Collector Charles Bryan $118,933

Sheriff Susan Benton $123,129

COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

Don Bates $48,966

Jeff Carlson $49,385

Guy Maxcy $48,899

Barbara Stewart $49,432

Edgar Stokes $48,911

SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS

Donna Howerton $30,706

Ned Hancock $30,706

Richard Norris $30,706

Wally Randall $30,706

Andy Tuck $30,706

School Superintendent Wally Cox $110,190

*Benton received $1,438 in incentive pay, $8,130 in Social Security, $15,504 in retirement, $5,935 in life and health, and $7,146 in life and health. Reimbursements totaled $2,961 for travel, $153 for communications and freight, $727 for office supplies, $1,999 for gas and oil, $395 for uniforms, $1,408 for auto repairs, $1,500 for education and training, and $4,277 for dues and memberships.

*Bryan was reimbursed $82 for travel in 2009. He is not reimbursed for cell phone and automobile expenses.

*Campbell received $12,868 for retirement, $6,673 for health insurance, $771 for travel and per diem reimbursement for gas and meals. He is not reimbursed for cell phone and automobile expenses.

*Germaine received $1,278 for new clerk training, legal aid and meetings.

*McIntyre received $7,705 for health insurance, $19,398 for retirement, and $6,000 for travel reimbursement to the Property Appraisers of Florida conferences, continuing education schools and local appraisal work in his own vehicle. He was the member of the appraiser's legislative committee and the immediate past president of PAAF in 2009.

*County commissioners, like all county employees, get monthly health, life and dental insurance premiums. Total: $6,763.

*Stewart's travel expenses totaled $333.

*Maxcy's travel expenses totaled $1,483.

*School board members received $14,918 in FICA, retirement and health insurance, except for Richard Norris, who received $7,528.

*Cox was also paid $1,960 for state certification, $5,625 for CEO Leadership Development salary incentives, $36,066 for health, Social Security and retirement; and $3,086 for mileage and per diem. He is not reimbursed for cell phone and automobile expenses. Total: $156,927.