Anoka County board approves pay adjustments for county attorney, sheriff after divided vote

The Anoka County Board of Commissioners voted to increase 2026 compensation for the county attorney and the county sheriff after divided roll-call votes, continuing a months-long discussion about market alignment and fairness.

Commissioner Reiner said he would not support the county attorney adjustment, arguing the office already received substantial increases in recent years: “I won’t be supporting this today,” he said, adding that the cumulative change would amount to about a 30% increase over three years and that he would have preferred a smaller 3% raise. Commissioner Reiner repeated concerns that such increases should be governed by a written policy tying elected-official adjustments to staff increases.

Supporters described the changes as a one-time market correction. Commissioner Gamache said the adjustments were intended to get the county’s elected leaders into market range with peer counties and that she would not support similar moves regularly. Commissioner Meissner and others said the adjustments are funded within the county attorney’s office budget and would not directly affect the levy.

County Attorney Johnson addressed the board during the discussion, arguing that the size and responsibilities of the Anoka County Attorney’s Office justify the change. He said the office is among the largest in the state and that the adjustment would maintain internal consistency with chief deputies and other leadership positions that already received market adjustments.

The resolution establishing 2026 compensation for the county attorney (Resolution 2026-18) passed on a roll call with four ayes and two noes. The subsequent resolution setting 2026 compensation and expenses for the county sheriff (Resolution 2026-19) passed by the same 4–2 vote pattern.

Next steps: both resolutions were adopted during the meeting and will be implemented per the county’s payroll procedures.