The Greene County supervisors at their Jan. 8 meeting approved salary increases for county elected officials for the next fiscal year, but it took three motions to get to that point.
In the end, the officials got all or more than they asked for, excluding the sheriff and the supervisors.
Sheriff Jack Williams in December asked for an increase of 4.5 percent for the sheriff’s office, saying he wanted more flexibility in awarding wage increases rather than all employees receiving the same percentage increase. What wasn’t stated when he made the request in December was that his own salary would reflect an 8 percent increase.
County recorder Deb McDonald and county attorney Thomas Laehn requested 3 percent salary increases, county treasurer Katlynn Mechaelsen requested a 3.25 percent increase, and county auditor Billie Jo Hoskins requested a 3.5 percent increase. An increase for the supervisors was not mentioned at that meeting.
At the Jan. 8 meeting the supervisors noted that the requested increases were in line with their thoughts going into the budget process.
The first motion, made by John Muir, was for a 3.25 percent increase for all elected officials except the sheriff, who would receive a 6 percent increase. That motion died for lack of a second.
Although the supervisors had not made a request in December, Benitz said Thursday, “I don’t understand why the supervisors would lower ours just to be good people. We have a job to do, too.”
Board chair Dawn Rudolph responded that everyone knows what the supervisors’ salary is when they run for office.
“Then they can all run for office,” Benitz said.
Rudolph answered that “we crossed a lot of paths we never knew of.”
Benitz then made a motion to approve 3.5 percent increases for all elected officials except the sheriff, who would receive a 6 percent increase. That motion was seconded by Pete Bardole. The motion failed, with Benitz casting the only “yes” vote.
Bardole noted that an increase of 3 or 3.25 percent would be closer to the cost of living adjustment (COLA) determined by the Social Security Administration. (The COLA for 2026 is 2.8 percent.)
Bardole made a motion to approve 3.25 percent salary increases for the attorney, auditor, recorder, treasurer and supervisors, and 7 percent for the sheriff. That motion carried unanimously.
Elected officials received a 3.75 percent increase for the current year.
Salaries for FY 27 will be increased as follows: county attorney from $141,458 to $146,055; auditor from $84,049 to $86,991; recorder from $79,928 to $82,526; treasurer from $81,246 to $84,090; and supervisors from $37,390 to $38,792.
The motion passed by the supervisors was not worded to reflect if the 7 percent increase is for the sheriff’s salary or if it is an increase to total wages for that office. The auditor later clarified the increase is for the sheriff’s salary, increasing his current salary of $118,873 to $127194. Increases to sheriff’s office staff raises will be part of that department’s budget request.
The deputy (chief deputy in the sheriff’s office) receives 75 percent of the elected official’s salary.
The supervisors heard a presentation by Charlie Amis, Randall Nelson and James Virgona with the Baker Group, LP, on financial services their firm could provide. The group has worked with Greene County Community Schools previously. The supervisors are considering hiring Baker Group to assist in developing a 5-year capital project plan and for financial advice on future bonding. It would also assist county treasurer Mechaelsen with county investments.
