Council weighs elected-official pay and chief-deputy parity; staff to cost options

Councilors debated whether to adjust elected-official salaries and set chief deputies at a fixed percentage of those salaries. One councilor proposed setting elected-official pay to $60,000 with chief deputies at 85% (about $51,000), which staff estimated would cost county-general roughly $25,000. Supporters said the measure would improve retention and align pay with comparable jobs; opponents warned about precedent and urged targeted adjustments where warranted.

Council asked the auditor to calculate the budget impact of a range of choices (2.5% up to 5% scenarios) and to include FICA and PERF estimates so members can make an informed choice at the adoption meeting. No formal vote was taken during this session.