The Granite County compensation board met as part of the county commission session and recommended a permanent $5,000 increase to the base salary for elected officials. The board voted that elected officials would not receive the annual COLA for the coming fiscal year; at the same meeting the commission approved a 3% COLA for county employees who are not in unions, and specifically excluded elected officials, union employees and elected-official deputies from that COLA.

Why it matters: Board members and staff said the recommendation responds to increased workload and challenges hiring and retaining experienced officials. County finance staff provided estimates of the near-term fiscal effect: the $5,000 base adjustment for elected officials was calculated to cost roughly $47,000–$48,000 for fiscal year projections; a secondary, wider personnel cost estimate for deputies and related positions was discussed but depends on final payroll and benefits calculations.

Discussion and votes: Sarah, county finance staff, presented payroll calculations showing the projected fiscal effect; Ashley, county clerk/recorder, and the sheriff’s office described increased caseloads and recruitment pressures. A compensation-board motion to recommend the $5,000 base increase for all elected officials carried. The board also moved, and carried, a recommendation that elected officials not receive the annual COLA; commission action then approved a 3% COLA for county employees other than union employees and excluding elected officials and their deputies.

Board members said they expect the payroll changes to be reflected in the official budget resolution and to be monitored during the next budget cycle. Commissioners noted that long-term affordability of salary decisions will be reviewed year-to-year.

Ending: The commission instructed staff to incorporate the compensation-board recommendations into the upcoming budget documents; staff will provide final payroll impact numbers in writing for the record.