Clerk of Courts Kimberly McKinney asks board to restore $5,000 Board of Equalization supplement

Chairman Clark told the board that the Clerk of Courts requested a $5,000 supplement for Board of Equalization work during the May 20 working session. Clerk Kimberly McKinney said she was paid $35,000 before state‑mandated cost‑of‑living adjustments (COLAs) and that, after mandated COLAs, her salary is $49,932.07.

McKinney said the unmandated supplement had been removed previously and that the way the reduction was handled "hurt her more than anything." She told board members she had contacted other counties to compare practice and reported that her peers had retained mandated supplements; McKinney said she feels the removal of her supplement "was an attack."

Douglas Jamieson said the original supplement was added in 2017 and that the former county manager approved supplements for the Clerk of Courts and the coroner. Jamieson said the board at the time was unwilling to fund unmandated supplements and that the county has attempted to align compensation across boards. Commissioner Harrison said the county manager should not have had authority to add costs without board approval.

Chairman Clark said the supplement may not be fully replaced but the board will see if some funds can be returned. McKinney also described that Board of Equalization duties require more work than only a couple of meetings and that she has handled additional responsibilities without the secretary assistance that existed in the past.

The board did not adopt a restoration at the working session; staff and commissioners indicated they would revisit the matter.