Recorder presents two budgets and warns consolidation may not save money

Ashton, Carroll County recorder, told the Board she prepared two proposed budgets: one applying the requested 2.8% cost-of-living adjustment and another reflecting a 6.25% increase aimed at aligning the recorder's pay with comparable counties. "The calculated and current average recorder salary is $84,585," she said, adding that with a 2.8% adjustment comparables would average about $86,953. Ashton said her current salary is $81,874 and provided both budgets so the board could choose a path.

Supervisors scrutinized the comparables list; one member suggested removing Washington County from the sample because that county's casino revenue skews comparisons. The board also asked whether consolidation of recorder duties into the auditor's office (a topic raised at the state level) could save money. Ashton said she knew of two Iowa counties that consolidated but that, in small counties, consolidation often does not create net savings because the work still requires paid oversight. She emphasized that consolidation would be a petition-and-ballot question and not a unilateral board decision.

No formal vote was taken on salary levels at this meeting; Ashton said she would circulate the two budget packages and that staff would provide the 2.8%–only column if the board preferred to see that alternative in a single sheet. Supervisors urged careful review of comparables and consistency in which counties are included for compensation benchmarking.