Compensation board recommends up to 4.5% pay increase for Pondera County elected officials

A public hearing on county-elected-official compensation was called to order at 10:00 a.m.; the notice was published in The Independent-Observer and The Valierian. The Clerk and Recorder presented a worksheet comparing current elected-official salaries with other counties and local entities, and noted a national cost-of-living adjustment of 4.1% for fiscal 2025.

Commissioners and members of the public discussed rising costs for insurance, fuel and equipment replacement, and noted that the courthouse boiler project was completed using COVID-19 funds rather than taxpayer dollars. The board considered options for modest cost-of-living adjustments for elected officials and discussion included the concept of offering longevity pay as an incentive for potential candidates and to retain officials. The hearing record notes that the Sheriff already receives longevity under Montana Code and would be excluded from additional longevity adjustments.

After discussion, Dan Majerus moved and Robert Skorupa seconded a recommendation for up to a 4.5% increase for elected officials and to allow consideration of longevity pay for elected officials who do not receive it under statute; the motion carried as the compensation-board recommendation. The hearing closed at 10:30 a.m. The recommendation was recorded for further action and administrative follow-up by the Clerk and Recorder.