In a move that is being questioned by some fire district taxpayers, the North Highline Fire commissioners raised long-time Chief Russ Pritchard's salary to $198,000 per year at their Sept. 7 meeting.

Pritchard will receive the 57 percent pay raise only until he retires on Dec. 31.

"It's a severance package," North Highline (Fire District 11) commission Chairman Ron Malaspino said in defending the raise. "We approached him, he did not approach us."

The board offered Pritchard the package on the condition that he retire at the end of the year.

"I had no intention of retiring yet," Pritchard said. "It's been the hardest decision I've ever made in my life."

Commissioners let Pritchard consider the deal, telling him to "take this and take your time, and gave me a month to think about it," Pritchard said. "Took the whole month to think."

Had Pritchard decided not to retire, he would not have received such a large pay raise, said Malaspino.

Pritchard's original pay had been $125,664.

"The money was not the determining factor," said Pritchard.

It remains unclear why the commissioners asked Pritchard to retire.

"We're (the board) kind of in a groove right now," said Malaspino. "We want to go in a different direction."

"Part of this package isn't everything that will be talked about," said Commissioner Barbara Peters.

The board was "happy with the performance and where the department is," Pritchard said. "They felt they wanted to go in a different direction and put new leadership in the top."

Details about this "new direction" are not being disclosed, but the board reportedly has narrowed it down to two options they will announce later.

Pritchard's raise has prompted reaction from some North Highline residents who question the board's decision at taxpayer expense.

The board is using public funds and "it's an egregious act," said Robert Cook, a former North Highline fire commissioner. "The taxpayers deserve better."

But the North Highline commissioners say they looked at several factors in coming up with the numbers for Pritchard's raise.

They knew it would only be for four months, it pays off Pritchard's existing contract, Pritchard hasn't had a raise in two years and this raise includes longevity pay, said Malaspino.

"All under the conditions that he retire by Dec. 31," Malaspino added.

"I've accomplished everything I wished to do for this department," said Pritchard. "I respect them for being honest with me."

The substantial raise does not set a precedent for future chiefs at the department, Malaspino said. "I guarantee he or she will not be making this kind of money.

The ongoing study by both Seattle and Burien of potential annexation of the North Highline unincorporated area also prompted questions of whether that had something to do with the chiefs' retirement bonus.

"Absolutely not," Malaspino said.

If Seattle were to annex the entire unincorporated area, the fire district would probably become part of the Seattle Fire Department. If Burien were to annex, the department could either join with Fire District 2 (Burien/Normandy Park) or perhaps remain, as it is to serve the city's expanded north end.

To compare Pritchard's salary with other fire and police chiefs take a look at the following numbers.

Chief Mike Marrs, $120,828 per year, Burien/Normandy Park Fire Department.

Chief Al Church, $126,204, South King Fire and Rescue (Federal Way/Des Moines).

Chief Bob Meyer, $113,507, SeaTac Fire Department.

Chief Roger Baker, $ 114,564, Des Moines Police Department.

Chief Rick Kieffer, $98,000, Normandy Park Police Department.

Chief Greg Dymerski, $116,527, SeaTac Police Department.

Chief Scott Kimerer, $111,163, Burien Police Department.

Both Dymerski and Kimerer hold ranks within the King County Sheriff's Office that influence their salary.