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Ashland County Board Votes to Raise Supervisor Per Diem to $75, Effective After 2026 Election
Summary
After hours of debate, the Ashland County Board of Supervisors approved a resolution increasing the per diem paid to supervisors from $50 to $75 and raising the second-meeting rate proportionally; the change takes effect after the next election.
The Ashland County Board of Supervisors voted to increase supervisor per diem from $50 to $75 for board and committee meetings, and to raise the second-meeting rate from $25 to $37.50, with the change to take effect after the April 2026 elections.
The motion passed by roll call after extended debate over equity, recruitment and fiscal impact. Board members opposed and supported the measure on grounds ranging from public service tradition to inflation and retention concerns. The board recorded 10 votes in favor and 6 opposed.
Supporters argued the county’s per diem has not kept pace with inflation and that a higher per diem could help retain and recruit members who must miss paid work to serve. Critics said public service should not be motivated by pay and noted county financial constraints and employee-pay pressures.
Board members who spoke during the discussion referenced comparisons to neighboring counties and inflation data going back to the last increase, and noted that any increase would not affect current officeholders until the next term. Several supervisors asked staff for an estimate of the ongoing budget impact; an informal figure cited in the discussion projected an annual increase in the low five-figure range if the higher rate were applied across board and committee meetings.
The item drew strong participation: multiple supervisors questioned whether to limit the higher per diem to county board meetings only or to include committee meetings, and whether to change the half-day second-meeting rate. After debate the board retained a uniform $75 rate for both board and committee meetings and set the half-rate at $37.50.
The board conducted a roll-call vote at the end of the discussion; the clerk recorded the tally and the motion carried. The board chair said staff will implement the change after the statutory effective date following the next election.
The resolution specifies the effective date will follow the spring 2026 election; the board did not adopt an immediate pay change for sitting supervisors. Implementation steps, including ledger changes and public notice, will be executed by the county clerk and finance staff.
