Salaries: Linn County Elected Officials Could Get 2 Pay Hikes in 6 Months

Elected officials in Linn County could see 4 percent raises twice in the coming year, if a new compensation plan is approved.

The Linn County Compensation Board met on Thursday and made its annual salary recommendation for elected officials.

If approved, the Linn County Board of Supervisors, Attorney, Auditor, Recorder, Sheriff and Treasurer could see a 4 percent raise to begin on July 1, 2013 and a second 4 percent increase to begin January 1, 2014, according to a press release from county administration. In all, the recommendations affect the compensation of 23 elected officials’ deputies and employees whose salaries are tied to the elected officials, according to the county.

"That is what the comp board is recommending," said Linn County spokeswoman Joi Bergman in an email. "Right now it's just the recommendation of the comp board. The Board of Supervisors can accept or reject/reduce the recommendation for all of the elected officials."

She said the compensation board has not made that type of recommendation in recent memory.

By comparison, the inflation rate projection for 2013 is 2.3 percent and the most recent consumer price index increase, reflecting the past 12 months, was 1.7 percent.

The Iowa City Press-Citizen salary database shows the supervisors earning $72,448 annually, Sheriff Brian Gardner at $114,068, Attorney Jerry Vander Sanden at $139,496, and Recorder Joan McCalmant, Auditor Joel Miller and Treasurer Sharon Gonzalez at $90,560.

The Board of Supervisors will discuss the recommendation and take action on the recommendation at a future Supervisors meeting before the board certifies the fiscal year 2014 budget on March 13, 2013.

Supervisors can accept the Compensation Board’s recommendation or reduce the recommendation, but they they cannot increase it.

Last year, the supervisors cut the compensation board salary recommendations, which were 4.5 percent for several officials and more for others, in half.

The Compensation Board is composed of seven members who are residents of Linn County. Per Iowa Code, two members of the compensation board are appointed by the Board of Supervisors; the Auditor, County Attorney, Recorder, Sheriff and Treasurer each appoint one member for a total of seven.

The final compensation amount takes effect July 1, 2013.