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Dunn County officials flag jail-staff pay grid as barrier to recruitment
Summary
Committee members and the sheriff said Dunn County’s existing pay grid leaves jail positions less competitive with neighboring counties; consultants will present recommended pay adjustments for corrections and supervisory roles.
Members of the Dunn County Judicial and Law Committee discussed persistent recruitment and retention problems in the county jail on July 28 and reviewed a proposed new county wage grid intended to address those shortages.
The issue matters because county officials said starting pay for many non‑sworn jail positions falls below surrounding counties, creating hiring challenges at a time when nearby employers — including the state prison system — recently raised pay for corrections staff. "We can't recruit and retain jail staff now, and I'm certainly not gonna help if they don't know what they're gonna make moving forward," the sheriff said during the committee's staff reports.
The committee heard that jail non‑sworn employees are on the county’s standard 11‑year pay grid while patrol deputies are covered by a collective bargaining agreement. Jenna, a staff member who presented consultant findings, said the county compared pay with similar counties including Barron, Chippewa and Eau Claire and worked with outside consultants to position county pay at a chosen percentile (25th, 50th or 75th) for correctional officers, jail sergeants and patrol sergeants. She told the committee the consultants will present a recommendation to the sheriff and to the Committee on Administration, with action expected at the county’s July meeting on the proposed 2026 wage plan.
Committee members asked how Dunn County compares to others. The sheriff said the county has sometimes been able to hire at step 3 for candidates with experience but that starting wages "last I looked is below most of the surrounding counties." He said the state prison system recently raised pay for corrections officers by about $15 an hour, creating strong competition for applicants.
No formal wage change was adopted at the Judicial and Law Committee meeting. Jenna said the county and sheriff’s office will meet again to review options and the consultants will deliver a written recommendation. The committee did not take an immediate vote on wages; the matter will proceed through administrative review and a future board action if approved.
