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Salary compensation board keeps elected officials’ stipends, longevity and COLA aligned with employees
Summary
Ravalli County’s salary compensation board on April 16 voted to continue discretionary $2,000 stipends for five elected positions, maintain sheriff coroner stipends, leave clerk and recorder base unchanged, keep longevity caps and grant elected officials the same cost-of-living adjustment as county employees.
Ravalli County’s salary compensation board convened April 16 and took several actions affecting elected officials’ pay and related stipends and benefits.
The board voted to continue a discretionary annual stipend of $2,000 for five elected officials (the two justices of the peace, treasurer, clerk and recorder/elections administrator, and clerk of district court). Commissioners also voted to continue the sheriff’s additional duty stipend, historically described in meeting materials as totaling $4,500; county staff clarified the statute treats $2,000 as a statutory addition to the sheriff’s base (which then can affect deputy pay) while the remaining portion is discretionary and described in meeting discussion as associated with coroner responsibilities.
Board members moved to keep the clerk and recorder base salary at the current level (no additional base increase beyond any countywide cost-of-living adjustment) and to retain longevity terms at 0.5% per year up to a 10‑year cap. On a separate motion, the board approved giving elected officials the same cost‑of‑living adjustment (COLA) as county employees; commissioners indicated the final percentage would be set in the budget process and could be adjusted later during budget deliberations.
Public comment included multiple speakers urging attention to support staff pay. One public commenter, Glenda, said she would “really like to see the support staff get more COLA than the elected officials,” arguing that lower‑paid staff face greater proportional cost pressures.
During discussion commissioners and staff clarified how stipends affect deputies: county legal/HR staff explained that the statutory $2,000 addition to the sheriff’s pay is included in the salary base used to compute deputies’ pay percentages, while other discretionary portions tied to coroner duties do not automatically adjust deputy pay. The board’s motions passed by recorded “ayes,” and meeting minutes show motions carried on each item considered.
The board closed the salary compensation session after recording the votes and directing staff to include the actions in the meeting record.
