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Polk County committee approves modest raises for elected officials, treasurer pay unchanged
Summary
The Polk County Compensation Committee approved recommendations effective July 1, 2026, including 3% increases for clerks and commissioners, a 4% raise for the assessor, a 5% sheriff increase with a longevity schedule, and a $100 monthly stipend bump for the district attorney; the treasurer’s pay was left unchanged amid public concerns and a referenced court order.
The Polk County Compensation Committee on Feb. 11 approved a package of recommended changes to elected-official pay that the county administrative officer said would take effect July 1, 2026.
County Administrative Officer Greg Hanson told the committee he was recommending a 3% increase for the clerk, a 5% increase for the sheriff (plus a new longevity pay schedule), a 4% increase for the assessor, a 3% increase for county commissioners, no change for the treasurer, and a $100-per-month increase to the district attorney’s stipend. "The total cost of this recommendation is about $32,000," Hanson said, noting the figure includes PERS and related benefit costs.
Hanson framed the package as a recommendation to be forwarded to the budget committee for possible inclusion in the adopted budget and cautioned that comparative pay data from surrounding counties can be inconsistent. He said the county uses Benton, Linn, Yamhill, Lincoln and Tillamook as comparables and noted the Pacific Northwest CPI-W is hovering near 2.9 percent.
Hanson also explained the proposed longevity schedule for sheriff compensation tied to Polk County service: an additional 2% after 10 years, 4% at 15 years and 6% at 20 years, with a 6% cap.
Public commenters raised concerns about the treasurer’s pay and about the accuracy of the salary-comparison spreadsheet. A speaker who identified himself during comment as the Polk County treasurer questioned whether the spreadsheet had been updated and asserted there is a court order to restore the treasurer to full duties; the committee chair said the county was "aware that there is a court order in place" but declined to provide additional detail in the meeting.
Resident Daniel Jaffer asked why the treasurer’s pay would remain frozen "from about 2016 or so" while other elected officials received recommended increases. Commissioner Gordon, speaking for himself, urged caution in approving raises given structural deficits the county faces and asked that, if CPI-based increases are applied, the treasurer not be excluded to preserve consistency. "I have a hard time, facing potential cuts to correct that structural deficit while receiving a 3% or 2% or 1% increase in my salary," Gordon said.
After discussion, a motion was made and seconded to approve Hanson’s recommendations as presented. Members voiced their approval and the recommendations were adopted by the committee; the transcript records only a voice vote and does not include a roll-call tally.
The meeting adjourned after the committee vote. The recommendations will be forwarded as the committee’s advisory input for the budget process and may be incorporated into the county’s adopted fiscal-year budget.
