Codington County commissioners approve 2.5% pay increase after split votes

The Codington County Board of Commissioners approved a 2.5% raise for county commissioners on Jan. 6, after a series of competing motions and two roll-call votes.

The board debated several proposals: one commissioner moved to raise salaries 2.6%, and another offered a substitute motion to hold salaries at 0% (the amount budgeted). On the substitute motion, a roll-call vote failed 3–2 (Commissioners McElhaney and Johnson voted no; Commissioners Gable and Schwier voted aye; Chair Troy Van Duzen voted no), and the board returned to the original 2.6% motion, which also failed on roll call.

A later motion to set the increase at 2.5% — made and seconded on the record — passed on roll call, 3–2. Commissioners voting aye were McElhaney, Johnson and Chair Troy Van Duzen; Commissioners Gable and Schwier voted no. The auditor provided the monthly-dollar impact officials were considering, saying, “The 2.6% would raise you $57.97 per month,” and explaining the current base and the adjusted monthly amounts.

Board members who opposed the larger increases cited the county’s budgeted assumptions and the desire to stay within planned appropriations; proponents said aligning commissioner increases more closely with employee adjustments was a reasonable approach.

The board did not change other compensation at this meeting. The approved 2.5% change will be reflected in the next payroll cycle per county finance procedures.