Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Wages And Compensation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Supervisors debate how to apply wage increases for hourly staff; conservation board authority noted
Summary
Board members discussed a proposed 2% across-the-board line-item increase for fiscal 26 and whether hourly staff should receive a cost-of-living adjustment computed hourly rather than a flat percentage; conservation staff noted state code gives its board authority to set conservation department salaries.
The Mitchell County Board of Supervisors discussed proposed wage increases for fiscal 2026. A previously suggested 2% increase across line items was on the table, but multiple board members and staff raised questions about how that approach affects lower-paid hourly employees.
An unidentified speaker asked the board to consider applying a cost-of-living raise on an hourly basis rather than as a flat percentage. "I would ask that we consider applying that cost of living raise, on an hourly basis, calculated on an hourly basis," the speaker said, arguing a flat percentage benefits higher-paid employees more in raw dollars and can leave lower-paid workers with very small increases.
Conservation department staff responded that, by state code, the conservation board sets leaders and salary increases for its employees; the department therefore must present a budget that already reflects the conservation board’s decisions. Staff said internal work — including comparisons with neighboring counties — informs that process. Several supervisors indicated they expected to review the conservation budget line items with that context in mind before taking final action.
The meeting did not produce a final board vote on a countywide wage formula; supervisors said they would wait for complete documentation and consider wage-setting options when final budgets are presented.
