Compensation Board for Elected Officials - March 3, 2026

Agenda

1. Recognition of Guests
2. Review and Approve Meeting Discussion Summary from February 24, 2026 Meeting
3. Discussion
4. Discuss Recommendations
5. Review and Approve Recommendation Documents
6. Updates and Planning for Next Year
7. Adjourn

Minutes

Members Present:

• Jennifer Justus, Chair
• Aimee Smith

Staff Present:

• Nina M. Smith
• Erin Braman
• Danielle Misché

Call to Order

Nina M. Smith, Classification & Compensation Manager, called the Compensation Board for Elected Officials (CB) meeting to order at 9:05 a.m.

Welcome and Introduction of Members

Members present are Jennifer Justus and Aimee Smith (both virtual).

Classification & Compensation staff present include Nina M Smith, Erin Braman, and Danielle Misché (staff in person).

Discussion 

The CB went off the record at 9:07 a.m. to review the Meeting Discussion Highlights from the previous meeting.

The CB went back on the record at 9:09 a.m. 

Review and Approve Meeting Discussion

Action: Aimee motioned for the meeting discussion highlights (minutes) from February 24, 2026 to be approved without any changes.  Jennifer seconded the motion.

General Discussion

Nina noted the recommendation documents were emailed ahead of time to the CB members.   The recommendations are .039% of the overall total personnel services budget for the county.

The first document titled Compensation Board for Elected Officials outlines the revised three-pronged approach of making market comparator adjustments where the elected officials adjusted pay rate including deferred compensation remains more than 2.5% below market comparators, applying the COLA approved for non-represented county employees to maintain internal equity and to align with similar anticipated adjustments in the market comparators, and then evaluating internal alignment between applicable elected official positions, the second-in-command position, and comparable positions with the county. 

The Compensation Board recommends all elected officials receive 2.7% COLA effective July 1, 2026.

Assessor: 

Option A: Increase 4.7%, 2.7% COLA, no further internal alignment necessary.

Option B: Increase 2.2%, 2.7% COLA, no further internal alignment necessary.

Clerk: 

Option A: Increase of 26.5%, 2.7% COLA, no further internal alignment necessary.

Option B: Increase of 24.0%, 2.7% COLA, no further internal alignment necessary.

Jennifer suggested adding language for internal alignment on the Assessor and Clerk that mentions the CB reviewed equitable positions that included other elected positions and noted some comparability, but noted no further internal alignment adjustment necessary.

Commissioner: 

No increase recommended other than the 2.7% COLA.

Commissioner-Chair:

The CB recommends the 2.7% COLA and an additional 1.0% on top of the 2.0% add-to-pay the Chair already receives.

District Attorney: 

The CB recommends the 2.7% COLA only. 

Justice of the Peace:

Option A: Increase of 5.4% due to market, 2.7% COLA, no internal alignment considerations.

Option B:   Increase of 2.9% due to market, 2.7% COLA, no internal alignment considerations.

Sheriff: 

The CB recommends no market increase, 2.7% COLA, 0.5% increase due to internal alignment consideration of compression reflecting where the elected official’s adjusted pay rate including deferred compensation remains less than 5.0% in comparison with the second-in-command.

Treasurer: 

Option A: 10.5% market adjustment, 2.7% COLA, no internal alignment considerations.

Option B: 8.0% market adjustment, 2.7% COLA, no internal alignment

The Fiscal Impact Sheet reflects the multiple options recommended and the fiscal impact of all the recommendations.

The CB went off the record at 9:27 a.m. for staff to update documents.

The CB went back on the record at 9:33 a.m. and provided the updated cover sheet and recommendation document to the CB.

Decision: The CB reviewed the final recommendations.  Aimee motioned to approve the recommendations and Jennifer seconded the motion.  Nina stated the documents would be emailed to the CB members to sign the cover sheet electronically.

Nina noted this is Aimee’s last year of her first term and shared gratitude for her work over the past four years on the Compensation Board.

Next Year Suggestions

Nina asked if there are other documents they would like to see next year.  Aimee noted that the visual from the document that had “yes/no” marked for the jurisdictions with comparable work was very helpful and Jennifer agreed.

Staff will provide information about the Commissioner-Chair but will include it in the Commissioners data sheet, not on a separate data sheet next year.

Staff will remove the last column on the second-in-command sheet next year as the CB previously determined this was not needed.

Jennifer prefers meeting in person.

Jennifer found the data sheets and the “yes/no” document the most helpful resources.

Aimee noted the history of CB recommendations and BC approvals was also a helpful document.

Nina asked if the binders are helpful and the members like them but would be okay with a folder with pockets too.

Recommendations

All members will electronically sign the cover sheet for the recommendations sent via email.

Adjourn

Meeting adjourned at 9:46 a.m.

Upcoming meetings/events

• Compensation Board Recommendations presented to Budget Committee: Tuesday, April 14, 2026 (in-person)

Comp Board Handouts

• Agenda
• Meeting Discussion Highlights from February 24, 2026
• FY Cost documents
• Salary Recommendations Cover Sheet
• Compensation Board Recommendations