Lane County commissioners approve pay adjustments for several elected officials

Eugene, Ore. — The Lane County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously Wednesday to approve six separate orders adjusting base compensation for several elected county officials, following recommendations from the county’s elected officials compensation board and the budget committee.

The votes, each 5-0, approved cost-of-living adjustments and a compression correction recommended after a multi-county comparison of total compensation. The measures cover the assessor, district attorney, justice of the peace, county chair and the sheriff; the board also approved a separate compression adjustment for the assessor. The board declined to accept an increase for its own seats, although the compensation review found commissioners’ pay to be about 9.8% below the comparator average.

The elected officials compensation board, an advisory body established under state law, recommended bringing elected-official pay closer to the average of five comparator counties — Clackamas, Deschutes, Jackson, Marion and Washington — using a total-compensation comparison that includes salary, benefits and stipends. Joshua Burstein, who identified himself as chair of the compensation board and as human resources director at Lane Council of Governments, told commissioners the board’s goal is to “in essence, true up compensation.”

Burstein said the advisory board’s analysis found the assessor about 6.7% below the comparator average and the commissioners roughly 9.8% below. The budget committee forwarded recommendations that the assessor, district attorney, justice of the peace and sheriff receive roughly a 2.8% cost‑of‑living adjustment (COLA); the budget committee also recommended a roughly 1.1% compression adjustment for the assessor to address pay compression between the elected assessor and direct reports. Burstein said the compensation board recommended making adjustments retroactive to the first pay period after July 1, 2025, and that the county commissioners may approve all, some or none of the recommendations or ask staff to return with altered amounts.

Vice Chair (mover) put the six orders on the floor; each motion was seconded by Commissioner Buck and carried by a 5-0 vote. The orders recorded in the meeting packet were titled with the board numbers shown at the meeting (for example, Order 25-10-14-06 for the assessor COLA). Exact dollar amounts for each office were not specified in the public discussion and are contained in the board packet.

Commissioner Farr thanked Burstein and the advisory board for their work but noted the board chose not to take the recommended increase for commissioners. “I apologize for that,” Farr said, acknowledging the decision went against the advisory board’s recommendation. Burstein replied that his board would continue to provide its analysis and numbers for commissioners’ consideration in future years.

By the compensation board’s methodology, the five comparator counties were chosen because of similarities in size, workforce and population; those comparators are listed in the record as Clackamas, Deschutes, Jackson, Marion and Washington counties. Burstein said the compensation board reviews total compensation — salary plus benefits and other allowances — and looks to bring pay within plus or minus 5% of the comparator average.

The board packet separates each recommended order by position and type of adjustment. Commissioners may approve the orders as written, modify them or request staff return with different amounts or conditions. Burstein and staff told commissioners the board’s recommendations are advisory and that the county’s elected officials’ compensation board meets annually to review pay.

Orders approved (each motion passed 5-0): - Order 25-10-14-06: cost-of-living compensation adjustment for Lane County’s elected assessor. - Order 25-10-14-07: salary compression adjustment for the Lane County elected assessor. - Order 25-10-14-08: cost-of-living compensation adjustment for Lane County’s elected district attorney. - Order 25-10-14-09: cost-of-living compensation adjustment for Lane County’s elected justice of the peace. - Order 25-10-14-10: cost-of-living compensation adjustment for Lane County’s elected chair. - Order 25-10-14-11: compensation adjustment for Lane County’s elected sheriff.

The board did not adopt a pay adjustment for Lane County commissioners despite the compensation board’s finding that commissioners’ pay is roughly 9.8% below the comparator average. Burstein noted the compensation board will continue to provide its analysis for the county’s consideration.

The commissioners’ actions finalize the adjustments contained in the orders; staff will implement the approved changes and follow the normal payroll processes. The board packet and formal orders contain the detailed amounts and effective dates; the advisory board had recommended retroactivity to the first pay period after July 1, 2025.