Senate committee approves one‑time 10% boost to county elected salary ranges

Senator Penzill presented Senate Bill 290 to the City, County & Local Affairs Committee, saying the proposal would set a one‑time 10% increase to the statutory minimum and maximum salary ranges for county elected offices effective in 2024 and then revert to a 3% cost‑of‑living increase in subsequent years. "In order to keep up, keep our wages competitive, we are proposing a one‑time increase of 10 in the salary scale to keep pace with inflation," the presenter said.

Committee members asked whether the measure would require counties to raise pay for elected officials or merely increase the range. Mr. Chris Valines of the Association of Arkansas Counties said the bill raises the allowable minimum and maximum but does not compel local officials to raise salaries: "It'll increase by 10%, but that doesn't mean that the salaries in that range have to be increased," he said, noting local quorum courts retain authority to set actual salaries.

Members also raised fiscal concerns. One senator pointed out that some counties already pay employees above elected officials and asked whether the cost would force smaller counties to make increases. The proponents said only a handful of counties appear to be affected and that the change was intended to address recent private‑ and public‑sector pay growth.

After brief discussion, the committee moved and approved SB 290 by voice vote. The chair announced the bill passes and the committee advanced the measure to the next step.

The committee record in the transcript does not specify projected statewide fiscal cost estimates or list which counties would be affected; those details were described qualitatively ("a handful, maybe 2 or 3 counties").