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Rice County sets 3.5% pay increase for commissioners and updates policy for Minnesota paid family leave
Summary
The board approved a 3.5% salary increase for commissioners (effective Jan. 1, 2026), left per diems unchanged, and adopted personnel-policy changes to implement the Minnesota Paid Family Leave program for 2026, with staff noting uncertain fiscal and staffing impacts.
Rice County commissioners voted Dec. 23 to increase their 2026 salaries by 3.5% and to leave per diem levels unchanged. The board approved the change by voice vote after a short discussion about broader budget pressures and departmental cost-containment efforts.
Sarah Fostad, representing administration, presented the resolution setting salaries and per diem and noted the change must be effective Jan. 1. Commissioners discussed whether to hold salaries steady but ultimately approved the 3.5% increase.
Fostad also presented required updates to personnel policies to implement Minnesota Paid Family Leave beginning in 2026. She told the board the county must adopt policy changes to comply with state law and that there will be fiscal and operational impacts: "There is a fiscal impact for implementing this... we don't know what it'll look like for staffing," she said. Commissioners indicated support while acknowledging uncertainty about staffing and operational details.
The board approved both the salary resolution and the personnel-policy modifications by voice votes. Fostad and county staff said they will work with statewide human-resources groups to address operational issues for local government employers and report back as needed.
