Commissioners set cost of living increases for county employees, officials

Lincoln County commissioners passed a series of resolutions to set cost of living increases for county officials and employees during a June 23 meeting.

The actions came a couple weeks after commissioners approved a 1.8 percent increase in county employee salaries. County Administrator Patrick McFadden said he landed on the figure after studying inflation rates from last year.

Rather than pick an inflation estimate for this year— which is certain to be much higher than 1.8 percent — McFadden told commissioners and members of the county compensation board that it was preferable to lag behind a year and base increases on actual inflation.

By following this strategy, officials would be able to more accurately take into account inflation seen this year when setting cost of living increases next year. Commissioner Jerry Bennett (D-2) argued that, despite the gap between the approved cost of living increase and the true rate of inflation this year, county employees have access to benefits that may not be available in the private sector.

The cost of living increase will bring the salaries of county commissioners and the sheriff up to $60,560.88. The salary for the justice of the peace is now set at $58,560.88. Prior to the increase, the average base salary of a county employee was $44,679.

When pitching the increase in May, McFadden said the pay bump would cost the county an additional $86,832 in employee wages and $30,441 more in elected official salaries. A $36,915 saving in worker’s compensation insurance and between a 12 and 15 percent increase in tax revenues due to a spike in real estate and housing prices would help the county offset the cost of living increase.

Along with being uncertain of this year’s true inflation rate, Bennett said commissioners have to decide on the pay increases without knowing the county’s revenue for the coming year. State officials are expected to send county officials the revenues in August.