Six percent pay raises recommended for elected Winneshiek County officials

The Winneshiek County Compensation Board, which makes recommendations on pay levels for elected officials in the county, on Thursday evening voted 5-2 to recommend six percent pay raises for the 2015-2016 fiscal year.

Members of the board cited a comparison study which a consultant did to look at the salaries of equivalent positions in other Iowa counties.  That study said Winneshiek County wages were significantly lower--in some cases by more than 10 percent--the salaries paid by similar Iowa counties.

Last year the board also recommended six percent pay raises, even though the statewide average pay raise for county elected officials was 2.5 percent.  County supervisors lowered the recommendation by one percent, approving five percent pay raises.

Thursday evening members of the Compensation Board said the salaries of elected officials in Winneshiek County are still below those of nearby counties--and bringing them up to those levels might take several years of six percent pay raises.

"For now we're in a catch-up mode," said board member Jim Burns, while fellow board member Mike Haluska noted, "Catch up is always expensive."

Two members of the Compensation Board proposed county supervisors be given six percent pay raises and other elected county officials a five percent raise, since supervisor pay was most out of line with the pay in other counties.  Instead the board voted 5-2 in support of an across-the-board raise of six percent.

If the Winneshiek County Board approves the recommendation, the Sheriff would be paid $72,874; the County Attorney would be paid $66,152; the County Treasurer would be paid $56,074; the County Auditor would be paid $55,643; and the County Recorder would be paid $54,900.

County supervisors would be paid $31,274 each, while the County Board Chair would be paid $32,069.

The Winneshiek County Board is expected to vote on the recommended salaries in March, when it is finalizing the 2015-2016 county budget.