Greene County sets 2.7% COLA, approves departmental budgets; strips assessordesignation bonus
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Summary
The Greene County Board of Commissioners voted to set a 2.7% cost-of-living adjustment for 2026 and approved department budgets after recalculating base pay formulas and reapplying tier amounts. The board also voted to remove a $2,500 annual designation bonus for the assessor.
Greene County commissioners voted to apply a 2.7% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for 2026 and approved a package of departmental budgets after staff recalculated pay using each position's base salary plus tier structure.
The action followed earlier discussion about whether a larger 4% raise would be fiscally prudent. Commissioner Randall cautioned against a larger increase, saying, "if we do 4%, we're really gonna be we're we're screwing ourselves for next year." The board instead approved a motion to set COLA at 2.7% for 2026 in a roll-call vote that carried by a 4-2 margin.
Why it matters
County staff told the commissioners that some departments had input pay increases into the draft budget using last year's tiers already embedded, which would have produced larger-than-intended raises if left unchanged. Commissioners instructed staff to recalculate 2026 pay on the base salary, apply the 2.7% COLA, and then add back any longevity/step tiers.
Major decisions and votes
- COLA: The board voted to adopt a 2.7% COLA for 2026 (motion carried 4-2 in roll call). That initial motion set the policy direction; subsequent departmental budget votes implemented the recalculated numbers.
- Auditor budget and stipend: The board approved the auditor's budget after directing staff to recalculate base pay and apply the 2.7% COLA with tiers added afterward. The board also agreed to move an auditor's $2,500 stipend line to the county council budget so the stipend appears under council appropriation rather than the auditor's operating budget.
- Part-time pay: The board approved a modest hourly increase for an auditor part-time position; after debate the board approved raising the position to $16.00 per hour (the motion carried with four yes votes). Commissioners and staff discussed hourly caps and the maximum part-time hours before benefits are required.
- Surveyor: Commissioners approved a $2,000 increase for an additional hire in the surveyor's office and approved a $65,000 allocation for the surveyor's corner perpetuation fund (motion carried by voice vote).
- Coroner: The board approved recalculations on coroner pay lines (remove tiers from base, apply 2.7% then re-add tiers) and accepted budget adjustments for increased autopsy expenses and mileage as requested by coroner staff.
- Assessor designation bonus removed: After debate, the board voted to remove a $2,500 "designation" or "certification" bonus that had previously been paid to the elected assessor. Commissioners split over whether the payment had been intended as a one-time recognition or an ongoing stipend; the motion to remove the line passed and the remainder of the assessor's budget was approved after recalculation.
How the board implemented the COLA
Commissioners gave staff a single, consistent instruction: for all elected-office and departmental budgets, strip any raises that were calculated on top of last year's tiers, recalculate each position's base salary, apply 2.7% to that base, then add the tier/step amounts back where applicable. That approach was applied repeatedly across budgets the board reviewed; the meeting record shows repeated motions "to recalculate base pay with the correct formula and apply a 2.7% raise," followed by voice votes.
Other items enacted or clarified
- Multiple departmental budgets were approved on the condition staff recalculate pay following the base+COLA+tiers method. - The board approved targeted one-time or program-specific increases where requested (for example, surveyor perpetuation, coroner pathology expenses) after staff explained likely use and timing. - Commissioners flagged a need to standardize how stipends/"designation" payments are requested and recorded; several members said such nonstandard payments should be handled in a uniform way going forward.
Quotes
"I will make a motion that we accept this with the correct calculation on the base pay and tiers at a 2.7% raise and move the stipend line to the county council budget," Auditor Heather said while presenting the auditor budget.
Commissioner Randall argued against a higher COLA, saying, "if we do 4%, we're really gonna be we're we're screwing ourselves for next year."
What happens next
Staff will implement the recalculation method for the rest of departmental budgets and adjust payroll schedules accordingly. The board indicated it will monitor year-end balances for funds (including several special funds such as the event center and opioid-restricted accounts) and may request follow-up budget adjustments if revenue or expenditures diverge from the estimates presented.
Ending
The board adjourned the budget hearing with instructions for staff to circulate recalculated salary tables and to return with any necessary adjustments; commissioners also scheduled a brief review of the maximum levy and levy documentation for an upcoming meeting.
