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Commissioners set county administrator recruitment range at $145,000–$200,000
Summary
The Franklin County Board of Commissioners adopted Resolution 2025-054 to set the advertised salary range for the county administrator recruitment at $145,000 to $200,000, including benefits; commissioners discussed comparables and workforce market conditions before voting unanimously.
Franklin County commissioners approved Resolution 2025-054 on Jan. 29, establishing a salary range of $145,000 to $200,000 for the advertised county administrator position.
County Administrator Eric Johnson presented the proposed range to the board, saying the figure reflects a review of comparable counties and recent recruitments. "So we have had discussions of kind of remaining at a low end of a 145,000 at a low end, and there was a recommendation ... to go up to 200,000," Johnson said, adding that the advertised range would cover salary plus benefits, leave accruals, association dues, training and other negotiable contract items.
Johnson told commissioners their most recent county administrator earned roughly $152,000. Commissioners discussed several comparables mentioned in the staff analysis — Lewis, Benton, Spokane, Clallam, Island and Grays Harbor counties — and noted that some jurisdictions and city managers in the region are offering higher pay. One commissioner cited a recent city manager salary of about $220,000 in nearby Pasco.
Board members said the range was intended to balance competitiveness in a tight labor market with fiscal prudence. After discussion the board moved, seconded and approved the resolution on a voice vote.
The resolution sets the recruitment salary range and directs staff to use it in the ongoing search. Any final employment contract and specific negotiated terms and benefits will be decided later if and when the board selects a finalist.
