Budget committee accepts compensation board recommendation: sheriff gets 3% raise; other elected officials unchanged

The Harney County Budget Committee voted on April 8, 2025, to accept the recommendation of the Harney County Elected Officials Compensation Board that all elected positions remain at their current pay for the coming fiscal year except for the sheriff, who should receive a 3% increase to bring the sheriff’s pay closer to comparable counties.

Committee members discussed the compensation board’s review, which compared Harney County elected officials’ pay with comparable counties. Committee members noted the board’s recommendation was developed independently by its members and that some members of the county court had not influenced that recommendation.

Committee members who spoke in favor said the sheriff’s pay was below comparable peers and the 3% increase would reduce that gap without creating a broad across‑the‑board raise for other elected positions. Others cautioned that calling the sheriff’s increase a “COLA” was a misnomer; the compensation board framed the sheriff increase as a market adjustment to bring the position closer to comparables.

After a motion to accept the compensation board’s recommendation was made and seconded, the budget committee voted with a voice vote, and the motion carried.

No dollar vote counts were recorded in the meeting minutes provided; the committee adopted the recommendation by voice vote at the April 8 meeting. The committee noted the change will be incorporated into departmental salary lines and the overall FY2025–26 tentative budget.