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Flathead County compensation board approves 2.5% cost‑of‑living increase; sheriff pay bump tabled
Summary
After more than two hours of debate about budgets and staffing, the Flathead County compensation board approved a 2.5% cost‑of‑living adjustment for county pay and postponed a separate $5,000 increase to the sheriff’s salary until June 17 for further analysis.
The Flathead County Compensation Board on June 3 approved a 2.5% cost‑of‑living adjustment for county salaries after extended discussion of reserves, recruitment pressures and rising local costs.
The board — which includes elected officials and the three county commissioners sitting as the compensation board — debated proposals ranging from 1% to 3% as members cited uncertain state revenue changes and the county’s reserve level. County Administrator Pete Malik and Finance staff presented projections showing the county’s reserve would decline under higher increases but remain above the statutory limit for the coming fiscal year.
The board also considered a separate request from Sheriff Brian Harrow for a $5,000 increase to the sheriff’s salary. That increase would raise base pay for deputies because deputy pay is set as a percentage of the sheriff’s salary. Commissioners and other compensation board members said they needed time to calculate the full budgetary and collective‑bargaining impact of that change. The board voted to table the sheriff’s request until a special compensation board meeting on June 17 so staff can provide detailed cost estimates.
Flathead County Treasurer Adele Krantz and County Attorney Travis Sonner urged higher increases to help retain employees who face competing private‑sector wages and local housing costs. Sheriff Harrow and other department heads warned that recruitment and retention problems — particularly in law enforcement and detention — are worsening and that turnover and overtime costs also carry budget impacts.
Commissioners emphasized the county’s limited revenue options and the uncertainty created by recent state legislation affecting property tax formulas. Commissioners said they were balancing the desire to support staff with the need to preserve reserves in case state changes reduce county revenues in coming years.
Outcome: The compensation board approved a 2.5% COLA. The sheriff’s separate request for a $5,000 elected‑official salary increase was tabled to June 17 to allow staff to produce a projected budget impact and to permit further discussion with labor negotiators.
The motion to approve the 2.5% COLA carried following roll‑call votes of the compensation board. The motion to postpone consideration of the sheriff’s salary increase was adopted; staff will return with numbers at the June 17 meeting.
