County Commission approves three payroll-related resolutions

The Lincoln County Commission on May 16 approved three resolutions pertaining to the county payroll, effective July 1.

Resolution 2018-06 set base salaries for elected officials, Resolution 2018-07 set the base salary for the justice of the peace, and Resolution 2018-08 set a 7.5 percent cost of living adjustment for elected officials and non-union county employees.

The resolutions set a base salary of $48,768.63 for the positions of county commissioner and sheriff; $46,768.63 for the positions of clerk and recorder, county treasurer, clerk of court and justice of the peace; $7,793.75 for the position of coroner; and $102,756.09 for the position of county attorney.

The base salaries reflect the cost of living increase.

In an email to The Western News, County Administrator Darren Coldwell said the cost of living adjustment would account for a payroll increase of “just over $200,000.”

That increase follows a year of significant payroll cuts realized by the county. Across payroll, health insurance and employee contributions, the county saved $666,768 as of April 30, Coldwell wrote.

The resolutions followed review and recommendations made by the county’s state-mandated compensation board. The board is comprised of commissioners Mark Peck, Jerry Bennett and Mike Cole, County Attorney Marcia Boris, Clerk and Recorder Robin Benson, District Clerk of Court Tricia Brooks, Sheriff Roby Bowe, and one resident from each of the county’s three districts: John Righter of Troy, Robin Swimley of Libby and Jon Leonard of Eureka.