COEUR d'ALENE - In a 2-1 vote, the Kootenai County commissioners gave themselves a 2.5 percent raise.

Their pay increases from $71,080 to $72,858. They signed a resolution approving the change on Tuesday.

At the same time, they approved 2.5 percent raises for the sheriff, coroner and county clerk. Kootenai County prosecutor Barry McHugh received a 1 percent raise to $99,665.

Commissioner Dan Green voted against the raises.

The sheriff's pay increased to $86,996, and the coroner to $63,076.

The assessor and treasurer received pay raises in October of last year. Those also were for 2.5 percent, and their salaries are now $70,684.

Commissioners Jai Nelson and Todd Tondee voted for the raises. Nelson said the raises this year and last year for the elected officials were the first since September 2008. At that time, the officials all received 3 percent raises.

"We got lobbied" by the elected officials this year, Nelson said Thursday.

"I voted 'no' because elected office is not supposed to be a career," Green said. "It is about public service. Some feel we need to pay more to attract qualified applicants, but if that encourages people to run for office then they are running for the wrong reason."