Deny this rigged raise

The goodbye tour for Palm Beach County's tourism chief continues today with another attempt to give him a huge bonus that would jack up his pay before retirement. County commissioners have been skeptical. Lacking a recommendation from the usually compliant Tourist Development Council, they have ample reason to say no.

The proposal is for Warren "Mac" McLaughlin to get a $26,000 bonus that would lift his pay to $182,000, with a chance in October for another boost to $192,000. That's suspiciously close to the first proposal of $203,000, withdrawn after The Post revealed it in February.

At 71, Mr. McLaughlin has defenders within the industry and has worked for the county for decades. But he's trying to make up too much ground too quickly. His board convened a salary review that left out nearby locales such as Broward County, where the tourism chief makes less, before concluding that Mr. McLaughlin is underpaid. Mr. McLaughlin served on a three-member "project team" that worked closely with the consultants.

Mr. McLaughlin already receives a $12,000 bonus. When he finally says goodbye, he won't have been underpaid.