If faced with another pay freeze, Centre County Prothonatary David L. Immel, for one, may not run for re-election in 1991.

"I seriously would consider not taking this job again if there was another freeze," Immel said, noting he spends between $5,000 to $10,000 on an election campaign out of an annual $27,462 salary. "I do enjoy it. But I think I'm worth more than I'm getting now."

Immel and several other elected county officials have not had a salary increase since 1987, according to the Centre County Comprehensive Annual Financial Report.

Joanne King, a spokeswoman for the County Commissioner's office, said the commissioners are currently not considering pay raises and nothing is planned for the future.

A pay-raise proposal is brought before the commissioners every year when they review the budget, said Treasurer Gino P. Fornicola.

"It's an automatic consideration," he said.

Several county officials said they have not been informed of any proposal to increase salaries.

The prothonatary -- in charge of court records -- said during the past four years he has made economic adjustments at home, as the cost of living, and not his salary, has gone up.

"I've considered evening jobs to compensate in the business sector," he said. "I'd love to see (a pay increase)."

Register of Wills Robert A. Bierly said if the county wants to attract qualified people, elected officials should receive fair compensation.

"Everyone is entitled to the cost of living," said Recorder of Deeds Hazel M. Peters.

As a former Democratic County Chairman, Bierly recruited candidates to run for office. He said some possible candidates "lost interest when they found out the salaries."

"The people expect full-time service and sometimes more. (The officials) try to deliver," Bierly said. Officials deserve to make the equivalent of the cost of living to adequately compensate them for their responsibilities, he said.

The consideration of pay raises by the commissioners would be an appropriate action, Fornicola said. To keep up the productivity of the county offices, pay increases would be a necessity, he said.

"We have been frozen for four years -- everyone else has had an adjustment," he said.

Fornicola said he plans to run for re-election -- with or without a raise -- but said he sympathizes with the younger officials with families to support.

Any pay increase would depend on whether the funds are available, the treasurer said.