Commission sets elected-official pay and approves 1.5% employee wage increase

Lincoln County commissioners adopted two salary resolutions and authorized a 1.5% wage increase for county employees at their June meeting.

The board read Resolution 2026-16, which sets base salaries for elected officials effective July 1, 2026 and implements a 1.5% cost-of-living adjustment recommended by the Lincoln County Compensation Board. The resolution lists base amounts for positions including clerk and recorder, clerk of court, county attorney, county commissioners and sheriff. Following the reading the board moved and approved the resolution by voice vote.

The board then adopted Resolution 2026-17, which sets the justice of the peace base salary at $69,319.62 and establishes justice court office hours as 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding recognized holidays. That resolution also passed by voice vote.

Commissioners also discussed non-elected staff wages. After debate about budget limits and retention concerns, a motion to increase county employee wages by 1.5% carried in a voice vote; one commissioner recorded opposition during the vote. Commissioners said the wage increase aligns employees with elected-official adjustments and noted retention and insurance costs remain ongoing budget pressures.

The board instructed staff to forward wage information to payroll for implementation and to continue budget work to set final budget lines for the fiscal year.

Next steps: payroll staff will implement the approved 1.5% wage increase; commissioners will continue budget refinement ahead of final adoption.