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Commissioners set 3% COLA and approve targeted wage adjustments
Summary
Sagadahoc County commissioners voted to set a 3% cost-of-living adjustment for nonunion employees and approved a package of targeted wage increases that raises payroll by about $12,703 (0.11% of the budget).
Sagadahoc County commissioners voted to set a 3% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for nonunion employees and approved a suite of proposed wage adjustments for specific positions during a budget workshop.
The commissioners chose the 3% COLA after discussing several measures of inflation and neighboring jurisdictions’ practices. Commissioners reviewed local Consumer Price Index variations and collective bargaining agreements, and decided to match the highest union rate rather than exceed it. The COLA decision was taken before commissioners returned to a previously moved proposal for center-column, fiscal‑year 2026 wage adjustments.
The wage adjustments the panel approved increase pay for a handful of county positions identified in department requests. The package includes roughly $4,000 for an administrative payroll/HR position whose duties have expanded, an additional $2,500 to compensate the facilities director for average overtime if that role becomes salaried, a 1% increase for two victim-witness advocates tied to credentialing completion, and raises for several sheriff’s department administrative positions. Commissioners were told the net fiscal effect of all listed adjustments is $12,703, or about a 0.11% increase to the bottom line.
Commissioners also discussed the interplay between the wage adjustments and COLA. Staff confirmed the percent increases shown on the proposed FY26 adjustment column include the COLA. The COLA had been set at 3.7 in an earlier draft as a placeholder; commissioners replaced that placeholder with the voted 3% figure before approving the wage package.
Because the wage changes include dollar‑amount increases for specific jobs rather than a uniform percentage, staff clarified which positions and departments are affected and that some items had already been included in department budget requests. Commissioners noted a few items (for example, an administrative assistant in one department and the sheriff’s records systems manager) were relatively small dollar increases but valued for retention and equity.
The motions to set the COLA and to accept the proposed wage adjustments carried. There were no roll-call tallies provided in the meeting record for either vote.
