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Steuben County Council affirms Highway Engineer27s 2026 pay, advances on-call pay and 2026 salary ordinance
Summary
The council approved Salary Ordinance No. 1058 setting the County Highway Engineer27s 2026 salary at $120,000.12, clarified prior retroactive pay adjustments, and advanced related salary ordinances; HR and the auditor said the 2026 salary exceeds the wage study amount.
The Steuben County Council voted to approve Salary Ordinance No. 1058, which sets the County Highway Engineer27s 2026 annual salary at $120,000.12 and amended the 2025 salary to $112,796.79 retroactive to Jan. 1, 2025. Council members approved the ordinance and its second and third readings by a 7-0 vote.
The action followed a request from Commission Board President Wil Howard seeking clarification about an earlier commissioners27 request for a retroactive increase to May 13, 2025. Council President Dan Caruso explained the council27s prior vote to adjust the 2025 figure and to set the 2026 salary at $120,000.12 "with no additional five percent increase on top of the $120,000.12," and confirmed that the council had voted in favor of the adjustment at its Oct. 14 meeting.
County Auditor Kelli Johnson and HR Administrator Erin Schiffli told the council that increasing the Highway Engineer to $120,000.12 "does NOT bring that position to the wage study amount; it puts that position well above the wage study," a clarification the council recorded in the minutes. That statement reflects the council27s discussion about how the approved salary compares with the previously conducted wage study.
Separately, the council moved forward Salary Ordinance Amendment No. 1056, which establishes an on-call pay policy for the county highway department; the amendment passed its second reading on a 6-1 vote, with Council President Dan Caruso voting no. Salary Ordinance No. 1059, the broader 2026 salary ordinance affecting multiple positions, received its first reading and will return for final action on Dec. 9, 2025; the first reading passed 6-1.
Council President Caruso asked Commissioner Wil Howard to deliver a 2026 project update at the council27s December meeting. The ordinances approved at this session will proceed according to the council27s published schedule and the items noted for additional readings in December.
