Which statement about merit-raise evaluation is true?

• A. The aunt may sign off on merit raises even if she remains city secretary
• B. The merit-raise evaluation must be conducted by a neutral outside auditor
• C. The aunt cannot fill out the clerk's merit-raise evaluation
• D. Merit raises are automatically granted after a year

Answer: (C)

The key idea here is impartiality in evaluating merit raises. A close relative, like an aunt, handling or signing off on an employee’s merit-raise evaluation creates a real or perceived conflict of interest. That relationship can bias judgments or appearance of favoritism, which undermines fairness and the integrity of the process. So the correct stance is that the aunt should not fill out the clerk’s merit-raise evaluation.

Why other statements aren’t correct: having the aunt sign off while she remains city secretary still presents a conflict of interest, even if she holds another role. Requiring a neutral outside auditor would be a stricter requirement than what’s typically mandated and isn’t universally necessary. And merit raises aren’t automatic after a year; they depend on performance, policy, and budget.