Commission approves 2% pay increase for elected and non‑union staff in 3‑1 vote; schedules special budget session and notes buffer enforcement funding gap

The board discussed salary adjustments for elected and non‑union personnel and voted 3‑1 to approve a 2% increase as listed in Attachment A; Chair Kevin Leininger was recorded as opposed. Resident Roger Schmidt urged commissioners to consider fixed‑income residents when discussing budget increases, noting Social Security increases for 2017 were small while Medicare costs had risen. The motion to approve the 2% increase passed on a motion by Tom Monson and second by Dave Salberg.

Commissioners also voted to keep the Chair and Vice Chair for 2017 the same (motion by Salberg, second by T. Johnson; unanimous). The board scheduled a special session on Dec. 12 at 1:00 PM to meet with department heads (Highway, Social Services, Law Enforcement, Auditor/Treasurer) to review department budgets. Commissioners Leininger and Salberg reported that Soil & Water and the watershed would not enforce the buffer law because there is no funding to support enforcement. The board went into a closed session for union-negotiation strategy and later reopened the meeting.