Minnehaha County sets elected officials’ salaries; raises take effect in January
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Summary
The Minnehaha County Commission on Dec. 15 adopted Resolution MC20-79 setting minimum base salaries for newly elected county officials and updated pay rates for current elected department heads, effective Jan. 4, 2021.
The Minnehaha County Board of Commissioners voted Dec. 15 to adopt a resolution that establishes minimum salaries for newly elected county department heads and raises pay rates for current elected officials.
Carey Deaver, the county’s human resources director, presented Resolution MC20-79, saying state statute provides statutory minimums but the commission found those levels inadequate for the duties of the offices. The resolution sets the minimum annual base salaries for newly elected officials as follows: State’s Attorney $130,000; Sheriff $105,518.40; Auditor $86,632; Treasurer $86,632; and Register of Deeds $86,632. The resolution also sets pay rates for incumbents effective Jan. 4, 2021, including State’s Attorney $137,020; Sheriff $143,858; Auditor $114,400; Treasurer $86,632; and Register of Deeds $98,696.
Commissioner Jerry Beninga moved to approve the resolution; Commissioner Barth seconded the motion. By roll call vote the measure passed with five ayes.
The resolution cites South Dakota Codified Law provisions (SDCL 7-7-9.1; 7-7-12; 7-12-15) that permit county commissions to establish salaries for elected officials instead of relying on statutory minimums. The county’s written finding states the statutory minimums were considered ‘‘inadequate compensation’’ for the duties discharged by these officials.
The action sets pay practices for the elected department heads as exempt salaried positions, with pay calculated in the same manner as other exempt employees, including treatment of weeks in which an elected department head begins or ends employment. No separate vote on payroll implementation dates was recorded beyond the stated effective Jan. 4, 2021.
The commission took the action as part of its regular meeting and did not identify any amendments or dissent during the roll-call vote. The resolution was approved by the board and signed by Chair Jean Bender and Deputy Auditor Olivia Larson.
The county did not attach additional supporting documents to the public transcript indicating projected budgetary impacts for 2021 beyond the salary figures in the resolution.