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Budget committee recommends promotion of county accountant to Grade E13 amid staff concerns about pay equity
Summary
The Budget Committee voted to recommend the County Commission approve reclassifying an incumbent Accountant 1 to Accountant 2 (Grade E13), accepting a roughly $9,091 midyear budget impact and noting concerns from the District Attorney’s Office about pay parity and staff retention.
The Elko County Budget Committee voted to recommend that the Board of County Commissioners approve reclassification of a current Accountant 1 to Accountant 2 (Grade E13), a midyear personnel change the committee said can be absorbed in the current budget.
The committee heard that the reclassification will cost approximately $9,091 for the remainder of fiscal year 2025 and that funding can be absorbed by vacancy savings from the grants and contracts coordinator position. "I think it's important that we develop a succession plan for this particular department," a committee member said during the discussion.
Nut graf: The District Attorney’s Office raised questions about internal pay equity and retention after the pay study, arguing the proposed step increase could prompt intra-county competition for staff and asked county HR and finance to review parity across departments before broader rollout.
Carolyn Smith, office manager for the District Attorney’s Office, told the committee that the proposed reclassification represents a large pay jump within county pay grades and raised concern about the message it sends to employees in other departments. "When we look at these pay grades from an Accountant 1 to an Accountant 2, there is a 50% difference in pay between those two grades depending on where you start and where you end," Smith said, adding that staff who work difficult case types see few upward steps.
County staff said the reclassification candidate has completed required coursework and is performing at the higher level. Staff also said the job description already includes language noting that many CAC and similar positions are largely funded by external grants and that continued employment is contingent on funding availability when applicable.
After discussion about the countywide pay study and internal equity, a motion to forward the reclassification to the Board of County Commissioners for approval was made, seconded and approved by the committee by voice vote.
Ending: Committee members asked county staff to verify internal equity comparisons from the pay study and to follow up with the District Attorney’s Office about positions and grading questions.
