Cole County approves 5.5% pay adjustment for employees of six elected offices, orders salary study

The Cole County Commission voted on Feb. 18 to approve a 5.5% salary adjustment for employees in six elected officials’ offices — the auditor, collector, treasurer, public administrator, recorder and county clerk — and directed staff to pursue a countywide salary study.

The raise, sought by the six elected officials, was presented as a targeted adjustment for small offices that, their spokesperson said, had received only cost-of-living increases in recent years. “Our request is a 5 and a half percent increase,” the group’s spokesperson told the commission, citing several offices’ lack of raises beyond COLAs and new responsibilities such as administration of a senior tax credit program.

Commissioners debated the size and justification for the increase for more than two hours. One…