Committee advances amended pay adjustments for sheriff, clerk of courts and coroner to full county board

The Richland County Executive & Finance Committee debated proposed salary adjustments for three elected positions (sheriff, clerk of courts, coroner) during its March 10 meeting, then forwarded amended proposals to the full county board for final action.

Staff presented comparables and multiple options to address pay compression and market drift. Members discussed whether to use a front-loaded approach (larger first-year increase) or steady maintenance increases across the term and compared Richland’s figures with neighboring counties (Grant, Lafayette, Vernon, Crawford).

For the sheriff and clerk of courts, supervisors considered different proposals and ultimately approved an amendment sending a resolution to the full county board that would set larger initial increases followed by maintenance percentages (the committee-approved amendment specified a 10% first-year increase and 5% maintenance thereafter for the proposed resolution as amended). The committee debated the precise first-year and maintenance figures for each office and flagged concerns about budget impacts, wage compression with deputies and patrol staff, and funding sources.

The coroner’s compensation proposal—raising the elected coroner’s base stipend and per-call fees—also moved forward. Committee members clarified that deputies receive per-call compensation (no base salary) and adopted an amendment to phase future increases (4% beginning in 2028 for subsequent years) before forwarding the package.

The committee did not adopt final salary ordinances; it forwarded the amended resolutions and comparables to the full county board for vote. Staff and supervisors said they will continue to refine figures and present a final proposed budget to the full board.