Road & Bridge employees press commissioners on pay; managers say raises under review

An employee involved with Road & Bridge raised concerns during public comment at the Custer County Board meeting on Dec. 31, arguing that pay issues have persisted and asking commissioners to resolve a pay increase that he said had been derailed earlier in the year.

The commenter (identified in the transcript as Kevin) apologized for a prior outburst and said he and others remain underpaid compared with job expectations. He said a raise had been discussed during the year but that it did not reach resolution and urged commissioners to address the issue.

Road & Bridge management (identified in the transcript as Vince and other supervisors) responded that they are working with HR and Treasurer Bob to try to provide raises where possible without exceeding the salary budget. Management emphasized the work to treat employees fairly while avoiding favoritism and noted the process would take time.

Commissioners reiterated countywide budget limits — the board previously approved a 3% cost-of-living increase and made no further across-the-board raises — and said department heads should pursue adjustments during the year if funds are available. The chair encouraged the commenter to meet with Vince and department staff to continue the conversation.

Why it matters: Staffing and pay at Road & Bridge affect county operations and service delivery. The exchange recorded requests for equitable treatment and indicates management and finance staff are exploring incremental, budget-neutral options rather than immediate across-the-board raises.

What’s next: Vince and HR said they will continue working with Treasurer staff to identify feasible raises and report back; the meeting closed without an immediate personnel action or vote on raises.