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Morrow County compensation board recommends 2.7% COLA and targeted supplements for elected officials
Summary
The advisory compensation board recommended a 2.7% cost‑of‑living adjustment for county elected officials and additional targeted supplements — 2.3% for several elected offices and 3.3% for the sheriff and district attorney — citing recruitment pressures and pay compression.
The Morrow County Compensation Board voted on an advisory pay package that includes a 2.7% cost‑of‑living adjustment for county elected officials and targeted supplemental increases for several offices.
Matt Jensen, the county administrator and acting human resources director, opened the meeting by reading the board’s statutory charge under ORS 204.112 and said, “This is statutory requirement,” framing the group’s role as advisory to the county governing body. After reviewing comparables and internal pay compression, board members voted to match the countywide 2.7% COLA for elected positions.
The board then approved additional, office‑specific supplements. Members voted to recommend an extra 2.3% for the board of commissioners and for several administrative offices — the assessor/tax collector, county clerk and justice of the peace — and recommended that the treasurer’s supplement be handled similarly. For public safety and prosecution, the board recommended a larger supplement: an additional 3.3% for the sheriff and an additional 3.3% for the district attorney.
Members said the supplements respond to two related concerns: recruitment and pay compression. Judge Steele described the justice court’s workload and local responsibilities, noting the scope of the office: “My authority extends to I can sentence somebody up to 1 year in jail.” Justin Nelson, the county district attorney (appearing online), urged attention to DA staffing, saying the office is the sole prosecutor locally and that vacancies are hard to fill: “We have 1 spot, and that has been open now for about a year and a half.” Nelson cited larger stipends in neighboring counties — Umatilla County’s stipend has risen substantially — as part of the recruitment challenge.
Board members also discussed structural budget constraints. A staff member reported that the county’s FY26 budget was “not structurally balanced,” noting reliance on one‑time funds and cautioning that long‑term adjustments should be weighed against recurring revenue forecasts and the upcoming ERP (financial system) go‑live.
The compensation board’s recommendations are advisory: the board will submit the recommended schedule to the county governing body for final action. Jensen said he will prepare the formal recommendation reflecting the board’s decisions.
The meeting concluded with a recap of the final advisory package and a thank‑you to volunteer board members; no final action by the governing body was taken at the meeting.
