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Committee advances bill raising statutory cap on county officer pay scale
Summary
Senate Bill 466 would increase the maximum figure used in the county officer salary formula from the current statute to a higher cap; sponsor said the change does not automatically raise salaries and counties and excise boards would still control actual pay. The committee advanced the bill 8-1.
Senator Albert told the committee that Senate Bill 466 revises the statutory cap used in the county officer salary schedule. "Currently, the county's officer salary schedule is set with a cap of $49.05 except for the sheriff. This bill will change the maximum cap to $74.05," Albert said.
Albert emphasized the change would not automatically raise salaries: adjustments require the county formula to produce higher pay and the county excise board must approve any increases. "This adjustment simply realigns the maximum cap for all county officials, which will give comp or 5. The revision of the county pay scale does not guarantee pay raises," Albert said.
Committee members asked how the new cap was calculated and about the history of state limits on county pay. The chair asked how long the state has set county salary maximums; Albert said he thought the limit had existed for more than 20 years but did not offer a legislative history.
Members discussed reasons past changes were made for sheriffs' pay, including recruitment and retention of deputies. Albert said sheriffs had received raises previously because of trouble retaining deputies and that the bill aims to make county officer pay scales more even and competitive with private‑sector alternatives.
After minimal debate the committee voted to advance the bill. The clerk recorded eight ayes and one nay; the chair declared the bill advanced.
