Compensation board urges big raises for county officials; supervisors to consider in budget
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Summary
Crawford County's compensation board recommended across-the-board increases including $12,000 boosts for the treasurer, auditor and recorder, a $28,000 raise for the sheriff and a proposed $150,000 salary for the county attorney; the board advanced the recommendations to supervisors for budget deliberation.
The Crawford County Compensation Board presented a package of recommended salary increases to the Board of Supervisors and moved the recommendations forward for inclusion in upcoming budget discussions. The compensation report, reviewed by representatives of elected offices and committee members, recommended raising the treasurer, auditor and recorder from $72,259 to $84,259, increasing supervisor pay from $34,531 to $42,131 (including a $750 chair stipend), raising the county attorney's salary by $17,525 to $150,000 and increasing the sheriff's pay by $28,000 to $131,979.
The board's representative said members compared salaries with similar counties, reviewed a state association survey and considered local workloads. A motion to advance the board's recommendations was made and approved, sending the proposals to supervisors for formal budget consideration. The packet with worksheets and comparable-county data was distributed for supervisors to review ahead of budget meetings.
Public comment at the meeting underscored the candidate retention and workload arguments behind the recommended increases. Corey Kern, representing the treasurer's office, told supervisors the treasurer's office processed tens of thousands of transactions and produced substantial interest income in fiscal year 2024, and urged the board to support the $12,000 adjustment for the treasurer. Sheriff Chuck Allen and other local officials said wage compression was hampering recruitment and retention for deputies and recommended the board prioritize competitive pay.
The supervisors did not adopt the recommendations at the meeting; they were forwarded to the budget process for further consideration. The compensation board's worksheets and supporting detail will remain part of the board packet for upcoming budget sessions.
