High salaries raise eyebrows in Tacoma, Wash.

Pierce County, Wash., officials say they’re just trying to stave off private-sector competition for county employees by paying 12% of its workers more than $100,000 a year. That explanation isn’t sitting well with some citizens. The local newspaper recently revealed that the number of employees earning six figures jumped 70% last year. That created backlash from taxpayers and some local officials.