Committee recommends 3% annual salary increases for Dunn County sheriff and clerk of courts

The Dunn County Committee on Administration voted to recommend that the sheriff and the clerk of courts receive a 3% annual salary increase for each year of the next four-year term.

The recommendation followed a staff presentation comparing elected-official salaries across similarly sized Wisconsin counties, with Dunn County highlighted. Finance staff told the committee the comparisons are sorted by population and noted an earlier packet error in the sheriff’s current salary listing.

Sheriff (name not specified in the transcript), addressing the committee, said he was asking the committee to “keep me consistent and head of the chief deputy; 4.75% would do that each year,” and described recent increases in neighboring counties. The sheriff said he was not seeking “a large bump” but sought to remain ahead of the chief deputy’s pay.

The clerk of courts (name not specified in the transcript) said her office carries additional responsibilities — including supervising court security and facilities and acting as juvenile clerk — and that, while she believed the position was “fairly compensated,” there was room for adjustment given those extra duties.

Committee members raised several concerns: some said elected department heads have greater liability and responsibility that can justify higher pay; others cautioned against awarding elected officials larger increases than rank-and-file staff, stressing the county’s recent tight budget. Staff noted the county typically references the Consumer Price Index for nonunion salary adjustments and described recent nonunion and union increases and market adjustments.

After discussion, Supervisor Michelle (first recorded speaker who made the motion) moved to set salaries for both positions at a 3% annual increase for the next four-year term. The committee held a roll-call vote; recorded responses in the transcript include Supervisor Bauer — yes; Supervisor Vogel — yes; Chair Hedlund — no; Supervisor Behrend — yes. The chair announced the motion passed and the committee will forward the recommendation to the full county board for final approval.

The committee’s recommendation will appear as a resolution to the full Dunn County Board; the final salary levels will be set by the board for the 2027–2030 term and cannot be changed in response to individual candidates later in the process, staff told the committee.

Next steps: the committee forwarded the 3% recommendation to the full board for final action.