A new commission that will set salaries for Whatcom County's elected officials will hold a public hearing on Wednesday, March 13.

The Commission on Salaries for Elected Officials wants to hear from the public before making salary recommendations for the council, executive, assessor, auditor, prosecuting attorney, sheriff and treasurer. The commission has until May 1 to decide these officials' salaries for 2014-15.

Commissioners have been looking at salaries in comparable counties and the salaries of other Whatcom County employees, to get a sense of what appropriate compensations would be.

Another public hearing might be held in early April, to take comment on draft salary recommendations.

Wednesday's hearing starts at 4 p.m. at the Whatcom Transportation Authority board room, 4111 Bakerview Spur, Bellingham.

Reach Ralph Schwartz at 360-715-2289 or ralph.schwartz@bellinghamherald.com. Read his politics blog at blogs.bellinghamherald.com/politics or follow him on Twitter at @bhamheraldpolitics.