Banner County commissioners met July 1 for a budget workshop in which they discussed a proposed 2.4% cost‑of‑living adjustment (COLA), how and when to apply pay changes for employees and elected officials, and several administrative matters tied to the budget process.

The discussion matters because the board’s choices will affect payroll costs for county employees, the timing of any changes for elected officials (which affects candidate filing fees), and how staff manages and reports budget numbers to the state auditor.

Board members and staff focused first on a countywide COLA. Participants noted a commonly cited index figure of 2.4% as a baseline for adjustments; one commissioner suggested 3% as an alternative while others referenced the county’s allowable “slice” at 5.17% as an upper bound for spending increases. Commissioners agreed the board must balance affordability with staff retention and benefits already provided through county plans.

The road department’s pay structure drew separate attention. Commissioners said road employees are placed on a salary schedule tied to a table maintained by the county; the board discussed the option of treating those positions differently from general county staff but did not adopt any formal change during the workshop.

Participants reviewed when salary adjustments take effect for elected officials. According to the meeting discussion, state law prevents the board from resetting the statutory base salary for elected positions except in the January of an election year; the board described the usual practice that, if the board sets a new statutory base in December or January preceding an election, the change would not take effect until Jan. 1 of the subsequent term. Workshop discussion noted that cost‑of‑living increases can be applied annually, but a formal resetting of an official’s statutory salary is constrained by statute and the election calendar.

Staff and the board also discussed operational items tied to the budget process. County staff confirmed that a small group of users (the three commissioners plus county budget staff) retain access to the budget software so that workshop changes can be entered and reviewed; staff said audit trails in the system record who last edited budget lines. County payroll staff noted that any pay changes processed in time would be reflected on the next payroll run, and that the board should finalize timing to allow payroll to implement increases.

Commissioners and staff discussed supplemental benefits proposals, including a group life insurance option administered by a vendor identified during the meeting and a potential 15% group discount for employees who switch carriers. Some participants raised concerns about increased solicitations or marketing contacts if employees enroll in supplemental plans; staff said participation would be optional and that individual opt‑out options would be part of enrollment discussions.

No formal vote on a COLA percentage or changes to the road department pay table occurred at the workshop. The only formal action recorded during the session was approval of the meeting agenda. Staff indicated they will continue to enter and track budget changes in the county’s budgeting system ahead of the next meeting, where commissioners said they expect to return to COLA and salary timing decisions.

The board scheduled additional workshop work to refine the percentage and to confirm the payroll and implementation timeline; commissioners said they preferred to finalize figures in a forthcoming session so payroll and the clerk’s office can process any approved changes before the next pay cycle.