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Ward County begins 2026 budget with step increases, modest COLA and insurance bump; pay amendments approved
Summary
Commissioners approved several departmental pay amendments and set initial 2026 budget inputs — a 2.5% step increase, 1.5% COLA and a 10% insurance increase — as starting guidance for budget discussions.
Ward County commissioners approved pay amendments for several employees and set preliminary parameters for the 2026 budget during their May 20 meeting. Human Resources Director Nichole Degenstein presented pay amendments for named employees in multiple departments; the commission approved the listed pay amendments on a motion by Commissioner Schuler, seconded by Commissioner Olson, with a unanimous roll-call vote. Later in the meeting, the commission set initial inputs for the 2026 budget: a 2.5% step increase, a 1.5% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) and a 10% increase for health insurance. That starting package was adopted on a motion by Commissioner Rostad, seconded by Commissioner Olson and approved on a roll-call vote with all commissioners voting yes. The commission characterized these figures as starting inputs for budget discussions rather than final decisions. Staff will prepare budget materials using the adopted assumptions; the final budget and any changes to step, COLA or insurance projections will require future formal action.
