Council approves lower Office Manager wage, freezes program assistant raises for Purdue Extension

President Michael W. Kluesner and the Dubois County Council approved changes to the Purdue Extension staffing wages during their Aug. 25 meeting after a request from the extension director.

Purdue Extension Director Chelsea Brewer asked the council to reallocate wages so the office manager's pay would be reduced to $21.35 per hour ($1,494.50 bi-weekly) while raising two program assistants to $22.50 per hour ($1,575.00 bi-weekly). Brewer told the council one program assistant has less than a year of experience and the other started that day; she said the office manager position requires a lower skill set than previously paid. The requested reallocation would not increase the department's overall budget.

President Kluesner moved to freeze the 2025 wages set for the two Program Assistants and to lower the 2025 wage for the Office Manager to $1,494.50 bi-weekly; Sonya Haas seconded. The motion carried 5-2, with Alex P. Hohl and Doug Uebelhor voting no. Auditor Sandra L. Morton presented an amendment to the Salary Ordinance to implement the Office Manager wage reduction effective Aug. 25, 2025, and the ordinance was signed.

Council members encouraged Director Brewer to work with Human Resources to update job descriptions and titles so the positions accurately reflect responsibilities and pay classifications. The council and staff characterized the change as a reallocation within the existing budget rather than a net increase for the department.

The council recorded the formal motion and vote; the salary amendment is effective Aug. 25, 2025.