County compensation board approves work strategy

Union County Compensation Board met Wednesday but agreed to only determine the reason to recommend elected-officials’ pay. After two weeks of research to suggest salary amounts, the board will meet again 5 p.m. Jan. 22 in the courthouse.

This was the first time the compensation board has met following the board of supervisors’ decision to continue having a compensation board. Last year, Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds and state legislators gave the counties the option of not having a compensation board and have payrolls determined by the board of supervisors.

“I want to talk about compensation board goals,” said member Susan Dunphy. The board consented to using elected-officials pay in the surrounding counties of Union in their research. Counties similar in population to Union County and economic factors will also be considered. No dollar amounts were proposed.

Elected officials were in attendance. Rick Friday was the only supervisor. County Attorney Shane O’Toole was one of two elected officials who made a proposal. He said he does not want a raise but requested one for his assistant and the county auditor, recorder and treasurer who he said are all still “underpaid.”

Union County Human Resource Director Paul Greufe who was in attendance reminded the board their objective is elected-official pay. O’Toole’s suggestion for his assistant is a budget matter.

Based on Iowa law, the staff of an elected official receives a percentage of pay of the elected official. Payroll is part of each department’s budget.

Sheriff Brian Bolton, who began the position this month, said he does not want a raise as he is new. He inherited the pay of former sheriff Mark Shepherd in the fiscal year 2025 budget.

Greufe also reminded the board to consider the people’s total pay package including benefits.

Supervisor Chairman Dennis Hopkins said last year when supervisors agreed to continue the compensation board, the board is encouraged to show its sources and reasons for the recommended pay. The legislation requires compensation board members to “show your work.” That means, members must show their research on how they reached the suggested pay amount for the certain position. Information must include comparable officers in other counties, states, private sector and the federal government. The compensation board has explained their suggestions in past years.

The compensation board reviews various information regarding suggested amounts to pay each of the county’s elected positions. Union County supervisors approved a seven-member board. Two members represent the board of supervisors; one member each for the county auditor, attorney, recorder, treasurer and sheriff.

The compensation board members for the auditor, sheriff and one for the supervisors will serve four-year terms. Representatives for the recorder, treasurer, attorney and the supervisors will serve two-year terms. After that, the board will have staggered terms.

According to the Iowa State Association of Counties, county officials should consider typical timelines for compensation board deliberations, collective bargaining, pay for other employees, budget development for the work to be finished.

Board of Supervisors can also adjust the recommended amounts. Pay amounts will be included in the fiscal year 2026 budget which begins July 1. Supervisors have begun their work on the fiscal year budget.

Those changes can include amounts greater or less than the compensation board’s recommendation. Individual elected officials pay can be treated individually. For example, adjustments do not have to be equal to all. The supervisors are to set the sheriff’s salary so it is comparable to the salaries paid to law enforcement administrators and command officers of the state patrol, Division of Criminal Investigation of the Department of Public Safety, city police chiefs employed by cities of similar population to the population of the county.