Kootenai County approves temporary solid‑waste pay increase to $19 an hour

Kootenai County commissioners voted on June 18 to raise pay for seasonal solid‑waste workers to $19 per hour after officials said the county has struggled to recruit for landfill and rural‑site positions.

"Solid waste department has been unable to recruit any new landfill or rural site seasonal staff hires this year," said John Phillips, Solid Waste director. "Currently, we offer $17 per hour… the waste department is requesting to increase the wage for both of these positions to $19 per hour." Phillips told the board the last increase was in February 2023 and that the department expects the change to be budget neutral in fiscal year 2027.

The increase was presented as a recruitment measure. Phillips said entry‑level spotters start at about $18.89 per hour and that the department delayed last year to avoid excessive pay compression with full‑time staff.

A county commissioner moved to approve the change and the motion carried. The board did not approve an immediate supplemental budget for the increase; Phillips said the department expects the change to be absorbed in the FY27 budgeted amounts.

The pay change takes effect for seasonal rural‑site and landfill temporary positions if the county implements the update in its payroll system. Commissioners framed the action as a targeted step to address staffing shortages and did not discuss further wage changes for other classifications at the meeting.