Todd County commissioners approved a 3.5% salary increase for the board of commissioners and for multiple elected county officials and set the county recorder’s 2026 salary at $84,000 during their meeting. The board voted by voice on each measure and agreed to revisit per‑diem policy at a later date.

The actions passed included a 3.5% increase to commissioners’ pay, a 3.5% increase for the county attorney, a 3.5% increase for the county auditor‑treasurer, a 3.5% increase for the county sheriff, and establishing the county recorder’s salary at $84,000. The motions were carried by voice vote; roll‑call tallies were not recorded in the transcript.

The discussion began with commissioners debating per diems: whether outside entities should send per‑diem checks to the county office or directly to commissioners, what meetings qualify, and what daily amount to set. Commissioners noted past practice limited county per diems to outside meetings (for example, Region 5, TRICAP or airport boards) and that county meetings or departmental meetings were not paid separately. One commissioner summarized the commonly suggested per‑diem level: “So instead of the per diem coming to us, then it would go to you,” and the group discussed $50 per day as an example; Douglas County was cited as paying $100 per day. The board decided to delay adopting a per‑diem change and instead keep per‑diem review for the next budget cycle so staff can estimate meeting counts and budget impact.

On salary requests, John Lindemann, county attorney, told commissioners his request reflected comparable counties in the Gallagher compensation study and sought a roughly 5.4% increase to bring his salary nearer the 2025 average; he stated, “I feel like a 5.4% increase for 2026 ... $158,824 ... is fair and reasonable.” The board instead approved a 3.5% increase for the county attorney by voice vote.

Denise, the county auditor‑treasurer, described the scope of duties in her office and noted differences in responsibilities across counties; she told the board she has 11 years as auditor‑treasurer and 37 years with the county. The board approved a 3.5% increase for the auditor‑treasurer after a motion by Commissioner Nasca and a second by Commissioner Denny.

Kim, county recorder, requested an $84,000 annual salary and described increased revenue and additional duties her office has taken on; she said, “So I asked for $84,000.” Commissioners moved to approve the $84,000 figure, with a motion by Commissioner Becker and a second by Commissioner Newman; the motion passed by voice vote.

Sheriff Allen presented comparable data showing his pay was below regional averages and left the figure to the board’s judgment; commissioners approved a 3.5% increase for the sheriff’s 2026 salary by voice vote.

Separately, commissioners’ own pay was increased by 3.5%. Commissioner Newman made the motion for a 3.5% raise for the board and explicitly proposed postponing per‑diem changes until next year for budgeting reasons: “I think we should go 3.5% this year and then look at the per diems next year because we’re gonna have to budget for that.” The motion to raise commissioner pay was seconded by Commissioner Denny and carried by voice vote.

The board noted the finance committee had budgeted a 3.5% increase in the commissioners’ salary line and that more detailed per‑diem budgeting would require final counts of outside meetings by year end. No ordinance, ordinance number, resolution number or specific statute was cited as the basis for the salary adjustments in the transcript; the actions were framed as budgetary decisions made by motion and voice vote.

The meeting adjourned after completion of the agenda items.