Osceola County board signals 3% starting point for elected-official pay as budget talks continue

The Osceola County Board of Supervisors on Dec. 23 discussed how to budget pay increases for elected officials next year and reached a tentative working consensus to use a 3% starting point for budget preparation, with final approval deferred to the formal budget hearings.

Board members raised differing recommendations during a more than one-hour discussion. One member urged caution, saying starting high then lowering figures could create the perception of pay cuts for staff; others argued for a higher figure — as much as 4% — or for a flat-dollar approach across offices. "I think starting with 3 to work off of should be," said the chair (unnamed), summarizing the group's view that 3% would be a conservative planning figure while allowing adjustments later.

Supervisors noted uncertainty in valuations and revenue forecasts and emphasized the need to wait for final figures before adopting a formal increase. One supervisor recommended a uniform across-the-board percentage to simplify implementation; another said some offices with many employees could push overall cost higher. No statutory citation or specific ordinance was adopted during the meeting; board members said they would revisit the item at the Jan. 2 meeting or by Jan. 20 during budget review.

The board did not adopt a compensatory ordinance or resolution at the Dec. 23 session. The discussion was intended to provide guidance for staff and departments preparing budget drafts; the supervisors repeatedly emphasized that any final pay increase would be set only after budget hearings and required formal board action.