County comp. board proposes 10%

John Van Nostrand, The Creston News Advertiser, Iowa
·2 min read

Dec. 13—After review of preliminary information from Union County departments Wednesday, Union County Compensation board approved a proposal of a 10% pay raise for all elected officials. Compensation board chairman Leslie Wurster informed the Union County Board of Supervisors Monday.

Supervisors are beginning to collect information for the fiscal year 2024 budget which begins July 1, 2023. Historically, supervisors begin a new calendar year with research and writing the budget with approval normally in March.

Supervisors consider proposals and suggestions from the department heads and compensation board for elected officials. Compensation board members are Tracy Chapman, Sarah Long, Bill Oetken, Susan Dunphy, Vanita Moberg, Wurster and Mike Duckworth.

Wurster said the 10% motion passed 4-3 with Wurster, Moberg and Chapman voting against.

"It's black and white but sometimes it gets clouded," Dunphy said about the compensation board's objective. "Our role is to look at compensation make sure we keep everybody where they need to be; keep our good people employed and not look at all the facets, but can the county afford what we are proposing?" We always go back and forth and it is a struggle for us. At the end of the day we try and get as much clarity."

Dunphy said the board reviews public and private-job pay and years of experience. Dunphy said the 10% gets Union County closer to state averages. "It's one of the biggest proposals in all the years I've been on the board. We've always been behind average salaries." Dunphy said there is no mathematical formula used to determine an amount.

"We don't want to lose them," she said about employees.

Wurster said after meeting with Union County Auditor Sandy Hysell, there are counties providing additional pay for a county employee who is heavily involved in the budget. It is common for the auditor to be that person. Last year, there was a one-time $2,700 pay proposal for Hysell and her budget duties, but it failed. This year, compensation proposed $3,500.

Wurster said the compensation board does not have any information from area counties who have a budget director pay.