Clerk of Court seeks 15% pay increase; committee had set 3% while other elected officials follow a 4.75% schedule

Katie, the Clerk of Court, asked the committee to reconsider wages set for the Clerk of Court and Sheriff positions and urged supervisors to support a 15% pay increase for the clerk position to reflect duties and comparable county offices.

"Essentially, I am requesting a 15% pay increase for the clerk of court position based upon the duties that the position does," Katie said, adding that elected positions are fixed for four years and that pay decisions should consider the position rather than the incumbent. She said 22 counties that had set clerk wages this season showed an average increase of about 12% and asked the board to consider bringing a motion on March 18 to amend the committee-on-administration recommendation.

Members explained process constraints: the Committee on Administration had voted to recommend a 3% increase for those two positions; other elected officials are on a 4.75% schedule under state timing rules. The chair and county manager noted that the executive committee could discuss the item but could not take action on an item that was not on the agenda; changing the clerk's pay would require a written motion and likely a county-board vote before statutory deadlines for elected-official salaries.

Supervisors and counsel advised careful procedural steps if members seek to replace or amend the administration committee resolution at the full county board meeting. No formal pay change was made at the Executive Committee meeting; the matter will appear on the county board agenda with committee recommendations noted.