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Bedford County approves 2025 compensation plan, including 4.25% increase for elected officials; two motions pass 2-1
Summary
The Bedford County Board of Commissioners voted to approve a package of cost-of-living adjustments and a 2025 compensation plan that includes raises for employees, elected officials and the coroner. Both motions passed by 2-1; one commissioner spoke at length in opposition to the elected-official increase.
The Bedford County Board of Commissioners approved a package of cost-of-living adjustments and a 2025 compensation plan during a regular meeting, voting 2-1 to pass both measures.
The first motion approved specified cost-of-living adjustments effective Jan. 1, 2025: elected officials at 4.25%, the Bedford County coroner at 10%, court-related positions at 3%, court-appointed positions per the collective bargaining agreement, and AFSCME-represented and all nonunion personnel at 3%. The second motion approved the county's 2025 compensation plan, which incorporates those increases.
The package was presented as the recommendation of the Bedford County Board of Commissioners. The board recorded that the 4.25% increase for elected officials originated in a prior board action dated Nov. 22, 2022. One commissioner said the current board did not make that earlier decision and that the raises for union-represented employees were contractually predetermined.
Commissioner (unnamed) explained a dissenting vote against the elected-official increase. The commissioner said the decision to oppose the 4.25% pay bump for elected officials was driven by principle and concern about pay equity for deputies and other county employees. "I voted against the pay increase because I cannot vote in favor of the 4.25 increase for elected officials because that really goes against my principles and what I believe," the commissioner said. The commissioner added that, as an elected official, their $62,639 salary is above the county's median household income of $49,468, citing data from the Center for Workforce Information and Analysis.
The dissenting commissioner said they supported raises for non-elected employees and deputies, and noted challenges the county faces retaining staff when private employers pay more. The commissioner also said the board is consulting a county solicitor about the possibility of not accepting the 4.25% increase for commissioners and is seeking legal steps and metrics needed to do so.
Meeting remarks emphasized that some pay increases were predetermined by contracts and prior board action, limiting the current board's ability to alter them. Board members said they want to balance attracting and retaining staff with stewardship of county finances.
Votes at a glance - Motion: Approve cost-of-living adjustments as recommended (effective 01/01/2025; elected officials 4.25%; coroner 10%; court-related 3%; AFSCME 3%; nonunion 3%). Outcome: approved. Vote tally: yes 2, no 1. - Motion: Approve Bedford County 2025 compensation plan (based on recommendation of the Board of Commissioners). Outcome: approved. Vote tally: yes 2, no 1.
No mover or seconder names were recorded in the portion of the transcript provided. The transcript records one commissioner speaking at length to explain a no vote and several short procedural comments from other meeting participants.
The board also said it will record and post meetings on the county website going forward for public viewing. The meeting concluded with a motion to adjourn.
