The Greene County Compensation Board met last week to give their recommendations for the county elected offices and their salaries for next year.

County Attorney Thomas Laehn began the discussion by reminding the Board to consider each elected official’s office separately, and not to the individual in that office and to not compare all county offices the same, due to each office performing different duties. He then recommended a three-percent raise and added that he felt that was fair considering the pandemic eonomic climate. 

County Recorder Deb McDonald and her Compensation Board Representative Adam Pedersen agreed with Laehn’s statement of the pandemic climate and recommended a three-percent raise. Supervisor Chair John Muir, along with Compensation Board Representative for the County Treasurer Tim Heisterkamp, and County Auditor’s Representative Guy Richardson proposed a 2-3-percent increase in salaries. 

County Sheriff’s Representative John McCormick proposed Sheriff Jack Williams receive a six-percent salary increase. He reviewed salaries of similar sized counties and cities with a full-time police force. With the City of Jefferson being the lone law enforcement agency in the County, the Sheriff’s Office patrols the other areas of the county and McCormick felt the six-percent increase was justified. 

Following the Board’s discussion, the Board unanimously approved the recommendation that Sheriff Williams receive a five-percent raise, and a three-percent increase for attorney, auditor, recorder, supervisors and treasurer. The recommendation will be considered by the Supervisors at a future meeting.