Roosevelt County compensation board recommends $3,500 raise for elected officials

The Roosevelt County Compensation Board recommended a $3,500 across-the-board increase to the base salary for elected officials at its June 18, 2026, meeting, and the board said the proposed raise would be presented to the county commission for final approval.

Board members and staff framed the recommendation as a response to recent cost-of-living increases and as a practical necessity because statute ties many deputiesand some department-head pay scales to elected-official base salaries. A presenter noted the Consumer Price Index was about 2.69% this year and staff reported affected payroll for those positions at roughly $7,298,000, highlighting the budgetary scale of changes to the base pay.

County Attorney Thomas Mer, who identified himself during the meeting, moved for the $3,500 flat increase, saying the amount would at least cover COLA on his base pay. "Be more than happy to make a motion for 3500 across the board for all elected officials," Mer said. He added that roughly half of his salary is paid by the state and that his base pay determines deputies' pay in his office, which influenced his recommendation.

Members discussed mechanics and impacts. Presenters explained that the clerk's base salary (noted in materials as $73,847) anchors many other pay tiers (90%, 85%, 80% for deputies) and that those relationships are set by statute; raising the base therefore cascades increases through multiple offices. Board members also highlighted vacancy savings in several offices and said those savings, together with current reserves, would allow the county to absorb the recommended increase for the coming year without immediate cuts.

Speakers cautioned that some revenue sources the county has relied on are volatile. Commissioners noted oil-related receipts have bolstered reserves but warned that such funds can be temporary. Participants also raised long-standing concerns about state-mandated duties that the county must perform without full state reimbursement, including motor vehicle services and jail staffing requirements.

The compensation board took a straw poll after a second was made and the board agreed to forward the recommendation to the full county commission at its next regular meeting for a formal vote. The board's action on June 18 is a recommendation; the county commission must adopt a resolution or vote to make the increase effective.

The meeting record shows the compensation portion concluded and the full session adjourned at 1:39 p.m.; the recommended increase will appear on the commission's agenda for consideration at its next regular meeting.