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Mackinac County commissioners approve 2026 pay increases for staff, amend elected pay amid one dissent
Summary
The Board of Commissioners approved wage‑study‑based raises for non‑elected, non‑union employees and amended elected officials’ salaries; commissioners said the changes follow a county wage study and will cost roughly $150,000 for 2026. One commissioner voted against the elected-official change.
Mackinac County commissioners on Jan. 8 approved two resolutions updating pay for county employees after a board review of a wage study.
The board unanimously approved an amended salary schedule for non‑elected, non‑union positions that the clerk and commissioners said implements recommendations from a county wage study and will raise personnel costs by roughly $150,000 in 2026. Commissioner John Kling said county employees are the county’s “number one resource,” and Commissioner Austin Kimberling said the wages reflect position responsibilities rather than individuals.
The board also considered and approved an amended salary resolution for elected officials. Commissioner John Kling moved the elected‑salary resolution; Commissioner Daryl Schroeder seconded. The motion passed on a 4–1 roll call vote: Commissioners Kimberling, Kling, Patrick and Schroeder voted yes; Commissioner Judy St. Louis‑Scott voted no. St. Louis‑Scott told the board she researched other counties and said some pay the three elected positions the same, and expressed concern about the proposed differences. Commissioner Schroeder said he had tried to be consistent using comparable factors and the wage study.
Treasurer Tina Massey told the board she believed some of the numbers were incorrect and said they should be changed; the board proceeded with the vote after discussion. The board did not adopt the specific edits Massey requested at the meeting.
The resolutions were presented as administrative measures to align pay scales with the wage study and to improve recruitment and retention; the board did not adopt further implementation steps at the meeting beyond formal approval of the resolutions.
