County commissioners heard competing salary priorities at a budget workshop where staff presented a draft plan that would give a $3,500 flat increase to every county employee and the sheriff pressed for larger raises for deputies to bring starting pay closer to $60,550.

The discussion centered on how best to target pay raises to help lower-paid employees while responding to the sheriff’s recruitment and retention concerns. County budget staff said the draft budget they are preparing includes a 4% wage target and that the county’s revenue outlook would shape final amounts.

Why it matters: Commissioner-level direction on salary targets will determine the proposed budget that must be filed by Aug. 15 and later presented at public budget hearings. Changes to starting wages and across-the-board increases affect thousands in payroll and the county’s operating budget.

County budget staff told commissioners the 4% scenario equates to roughly $217,000 in payroll increases in their current calculations. Commissioners debated whether to continue using percentage-based raises or repeat recent practice of awarding a flat dollar amount to lift the lowest-paid workers. Several speakers argued a flat increase benefits lower-paid employees more than a percentage would.

Sheriff Stewart (identified by surname in the meeting) urged a target that would raise deputy starting pay from the current $55,000 range toward $60,550. Commissioners and budget staff discussed mechanics: one option under consideration was a $3,500 flat increase for all employees plus allowing the sheriff to reallocate operational savings in his budget to provide additional pay adjustments for deputies.

A motion was made at the close of the discussion directing preparation of a salary plan described in the meeting — a $3,500 flat increase for all employees, and allowing the sheriff to use department savings to raise deputies toward the $60,500 target — and the motion was seconded. The transcript does not record a formal vote tally or final adoption of that motion.

Next steps: Budget staff said they will include the proposed salary scenarios in the draft budget to be distributed to commissioners before the county clerk filing deadline and that the proposed budget will be subject to public hearings and possible revision.

Speakers quoted or paraphrased in this story are those who spoke on the record during the budget discussion and are identified in the article’s speaker list.