Changed from original post to show correctly the county attorney’s salary request
In the second year of serving as compensation board, the county supervisors heard requests Dec. 18 from their peers – other county elected officials – for salary increases for the fiscal year starting next July 1.
County treasurer Katlynn Mechaelsen and sheriff Jack Williams both used the meeting to ask for increases to share with employees in their offices.
Mechaelsen reminded the supervisors the treasurer’s office has seen increased revenues and decreased expenditures in her budget in recent years. She requested a total of $9,500 to use for salary increases for herself and her staff. That would be about a 3.25 percent increase overall in salaries.
Williams asked for a total increase of 4.5 percent for the sheriff’s office. He said he’d like more flexibility in awarding wage increases rather than all employees receiving the same percentage increase. The increase he suggested would also bring all wages in the sheriff’s office up to within $5,000 of the state average for their respective positions.
County recorder Deb McDonald thanked the supervisors for their efforts to bring elected officials’ salaries up to the median across the state. She said she’d like that to continue, and asked for a 3.5 percent salary increase.
Auditor Billie Jo Hoskins also asked for a 3.5 percent increase. She said responsibilities in the auditor’s office have increased in recent years, particularly in dealing with elections, as mandated by the state. She also noted her office has taken on some responsibilities for drainage.
County attorney Thomas Laehn said he and his employees are adequately compensated and that his own salary of $141,458 falls between the state median and the state average for fulltime county attorneys. He asked for a 3 percent increase to keep pace with other county attorneys.
The supervisors had not discussed their own salary as a group. Dan Benitz suggested the board chair, currently John Muir, should receive an additional stipend. The board took no action on the salary recommendations.
