Santa Fe County approves independent commission’s recommended pay changes for elected officials

The Santa Fe County Board of County Commissioners voted Dec. 12 to adopt recommendations from the Independent Salary Commission on pay levels for 10 county elected offices, approving a resolution that sets staggered effective dates for any increases so they do not take effect during incumbents’ current terms.

The commission’s chair, Clifford Rees, told commissioners the panel compared salaries across New Mexico’s five Class A counties (Bernalillo, Sandoval, Dona Ana, San Juan and Santa Fe) and considered full‑time equivalents, budgets and deputy pay when framing recommendations. "We looked at several principles," Rees said during the presentation, "and we focused on the other four Class A counties." The commission delivered its report after meeting three times in November and submitted its recommendations by the county’s December deadline.

Why it matters: Commissioners and staff said the constitutional amendment passed in 2024 devolved salary‑setting authority to counties but restricts changes during an official’s term (Article IV, Section 27). County Attorney Walker Boyd and commission counsel noted the constitutional language means any adopted increases are phased so they become effective only at the start of a new term or for a successor who was not in office when the increase was adopted.

During discussion, Commissioners asked why San Juan County’s salaries are outliers and whether automatic cost‑of‑living adjustments (COLAs) or interim raises were possible. Rees said the commission debated the issue but did not find definitive historical reasons and recommended that the county avoid in‑term COLAs because the constitutional provision likely prohibits them. "We were hesitant to speculate," Rees said, acknowledging politics and local economics might explain differences between counties.

The vote and next steps: Commissioner Hank Hughes moved to adopt the commission’s recommendations; the motion was seconded and approved by the board. The resolution was entered into the record as Resolution 2025146. County staff said any adopted increases would take effect for newly elected officeholders or successors, consistent with legal advice that the county may set salaries but cannot increase pay during a sitting official’s term.

Legal and procedural context: Commissioners repeatedly raised transparency and recusal questions; staff explained prior recusal instances and reiterated that this action does not alter current pay for sitting officeholders. The board’s action formalizes the commission’s work and directs staff to follow the recommended implementation timeline.