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Hennepin County commissioners approve 5% pay increases for 2025 and 2026
Summary
The Hennepin County Board voted unanimously Aug. 20 to raise commissioner pay by 5% for each of 2025 and 2026, a change proponents said would help attract a more diverse pool of candidates and align commissioner compensation with county employee increases.
The Hennepin County Board on Aug. 20 approved a 5% pay increase for commissioners for each of 2025 and 2026, a measure board members said is intended to keep commissioner compensation in line with employee pay increases and expand access to elected office.
"This really does reflect what is been historically the compensation level that we would have received over the same, that every employee has received over the last 6 years, and is keeping pace with that," a commissioner supporting the change said, noting the proposal emerged after extensive discussion and public feedback. Chair Irene Fernando emphasized the broader goal of improving access to public office: "The best chance we have to meet the moment and build a world that our residents deserve is to truly broaden who gets to sit at this decision making table."
Supporters framed the increase as a recruitment and equity measure designed to reduce financial barriers to service. The board discussed the policy at length before taking a unanimous voice vote to adopt the two-year increase. No dissenting votes were recorded on the motion, which commissioners moved and seconded during the meeting.
The change will take effect for the 2025 pay cycle; the board did not provide a fiscal note in the transcript for the total budget impact.
