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Pueblo County employees urge larger pay increases as commissioners cite flat budget and approve 2.8% COLA
Summary
During public comment, county employees and residents submitted at least 15 letters urging higher wages and faster implementation of a cost‑of‑living adjustment. Commissioners acknowledged the concerns but said the county budget is flat and that a 2.8% COLA approved for 2025 is what the board could fund this year.
A large group of public comments read into the record at the Jan. 7 Pueblo County Board of County Commissioners meeting urged the board to increase employee compensation beyond a 2.8% cost‑of‑living adjustment (COLA) approved in the county budget.
The county read 15 written public comments during the meeting (staff said 30 comments were on file, five anonymous and 25 non‑anonymous). The comments, many from employees in the County Clerk and Recorder’s Office and motor vehicle staff, described widespread reliance on second jobs, difficulty affording housing and basic expenses, and disappointment that the COLA yields only a small increase above inflation as described by the commenters.
Commenters named in the record include Alvis Martinez, Robert Brown, Cynthia Martinez, Brenda Maldonado, Bridal Omular, Charles Sierra, Taylor Gurley, Alicia Teekill, Devin Berman, Ewan McCrory, Kayla Sanchez, Michael Boychston, Deanna Kendall and Jane Boyd. One commenter pointed to specific rundown properties in the city and requested county action on blight; others focused on wages, morale and retention.
Multiple commenters questioned the timing of the pay adjustment; staff said the COLA will take effect in April when payroll transitions to Workday, and several commenters urged back pay or a sooner implementation. Commenters also noted inflation figures and argued a larger increase was required to match local costs.
Commissioners responded to the comments during the meeting. Commissioners thanked county employees for their service and said they were sympathetic to the concerns raised. Several commissioners noted that the county’s budget is effectively flat this year and that the board set aside funds to provide the 2.8% COLA while attempting to avoid cutting essential services. Commissioners described past multi‑year raises totaling up to roughly 20% over several years and said further structural changes to pay policies would need to be addressed in future budgets or by the next board.
No additional wage action was taken at the Jan. 7 meeting; commissioners encouraged employees to continue submitting feedback and said staff would continue to examine options to support employees within budget constraints.
Votes at a glance: No formal vote on changing the approved COLA was taken during public comment; the previously adopted budget and COLA remain in effect.
