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Klamath County commissioners approve retroactive pay for two sheriff’s lieutenants, set interim raise
Summary
The Board of Commissioners approved retroactive pay for two sheriff’s lieutenants and adopted an interim 4% raise for lieutenants while deferring any broader compensation changes to the budget process. The sheriff’s office had requested larger increases to correct salary compression following recent sergeants’ raises.
Klamath County commissioners on March 25 approved retroactive pay for two lieutenants in the Sheriff’s Office and set an interim pay increase for lieutenants while leaving larger compensation changes for the budget process.
Human Resources director Sue Baumgart and Sheriff Shane Mitchell told the board that recent pay increases for sergeants had compressed pay at higher ranks, creating a need to restore separation between lieutenants, the undersheriff and the sheriff. Baumgart and Mitchell requested a 9% increase for lieutenants and an 8% increase for the undersheriff, and noted the sheriff’s salary is subject to adjustment under ORS 204.112. They said the fiscal impact for the remainder of the year could be covered by salary savings from current vacancies.
Commissioner Nichols proposed a smaller, interim 4% increase for lieutenants, citing county policy and the need to maintain rank separation; Commissioner Minty seconded the motion. The board debated the scope of retroactive pay and amended the motion to provide retroactive pay for Lieutenant Steve Lewis back to the KSSA contract ratification date and for Lieutenant Justman back to his promotion date, consistent with previous board commitments. The amended motion passed unanimously.
The board agreed to revisit broader compensation adjustments as part of the upcoming budget process. No detailed dollar totals for the annualized or ongoing fiscal impact were provided at the meeting.
