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Jackson County adopts FY2027 budget; sheriff’s representative urges 11.5% salary increase to meet state comparability law
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Summary
Jackson County’s Board of Supervisors on April 21 adopted the FY2027 budget and a resolution setting elected-official salaries. Michael Keener, speaking for Sheriff Kilberg, urged the board to set the sheriff’s FY27 pay at the compensation board’s 11.5% recommendation to satisfy Iowa Code 331.9071’s comparability requirement; county counsel said the board must document its comparability reasoning.
The Jackson County Board of Supervisors adopted the county’s fiscal year 2027 budget and certified elected-official salaries at its April 21 meeting.
Michael Keener, representing Sheriff Kilberg, urged the board to set the sheriff’s salary at the compensation board’s recommendation — "an 11 and a half percent increase" — saying the posted budget figure would leave the county out of compliance with Iowa Code section 331.9071 and related comparability requirements. "If we can't get him there, then for yet another year, Jackson County will be in violation of the law," Keener said.
County legal counsel advised the supervisors that while the compensation board’s recommendation must be in the record, it is not controlling. "The board may adopt the recommendation of the compensation board, or it may set a different amount provided that the final salary remains comparable within the meaning of the statute and that the board's reasoning is reflected in the record," counsel said.
The board first voted to accept and place the compensation board recommendation on file and then approved Resolution 11-75-04-21-2026 certifying elected-official salaries for FY2027. The board also approved Resolution 11-76-04-21-2026 adopting the published FY2027 Jackson County budget for the period July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027, "including the compensation board's salary recommendation with adjustments," the auditor said. The supervisors then authorized the chair and auditor to sign the adoption and directed the auditor to file required forms with the Iowa Department of Management.
Auditor remarks to the board summarized a months-long process of worksheets, departmental reviews and compensation board materials. The auditor characterized the proposed levy change as a modest overall increase and said the budget process began with department worksheets in November and included compensation board work completed this spring.
What happens next: the adopted budget will be signed by the chair and auditor and filed with the state as directed. The transcript indicates the sheriff’s representative’s request and the compensation board recommendation are in the record; the board retains discretion to document how the final salary satisfies the statutory comparability standard.
Votes at a glance: motions to accept compensation board recommendation on file and to adopt Resolutions 11-75-04-21-2026 and 11-76-04-21-2026 passed unanimously during the meeting.
