Fallon County commissioners approve 2.78% COLA for elected officials; other employees to receive roughly 2.5%

The Fallon County Board of Commissioners voted to approve a 2.78% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for elected officials; county staff said the formula will translate to roughly a 2.5% increase for most other county employees and that deputies receive 90% of the approved elected-official increase under state law.

Why it matters: The COLA affects payroll budgets across the county and interacts with earlier one-time adjustments and longevity changes made in the previous year. Commissioners debated how to balance taxpayer impact against employee retention and parity across job classes before approving the increase.

Discussion and vote: Commissioners and staff recounted the package of salary revisions carried out last year, including position reclassifications and longevity changes. Some board members argued for a more conservative increase given the county—s sizeable one-time payroll adjustments last year; others pointed to available interest income and the need to keep pay competitive.

A motion to set the elected-official COLA at 2.78% was made by Commissioner Kyle Maderas and seconded by Commissioner Trent Harbaugh. The board counted votes as seven in favor and two opposed; the chair announced the motion carried. Staff said they will convert that elected-official percentage into the applicable percentages and dollar amounts for deputies (statutorily 90% of elected officials) and other county employees.

What remains: County payroll and human-resources staff will calculate individual dollar increases, apply the statutory formulas for deputies, and prepare the formal budget amendment for the commissioners— next meeting.

Ending: The board instructed staff to bring the finalized payroll numbers back for formal inclusion in the fiscal documents on the next agenda.