County talks modest pay increases for staff

Seemingly striking a compromise, the Flathead County Compensation Board last week voted to recommend a 2.5% cost of living increase in county wages.  

The compensation board is made up of the county’s elected officials, including the three county commissioners, and two citizen members. After several rounds of voting the wage increase was accepted but not before several members of the compensation board advocated for a higher 3% increase, while commissioners lobbied for a lower 2% increase.  

County Attorney Travis Ahner, County Treasurer Adele Krantz and Sheriff Brian Heino all spoke in favor of a 3% increase. 

Krantz said her department keeps its staff at the “bare bones” level even with unprecedented growth in the county.  

“My staff works their tail off every day and it’s not an easy job,” she said. “I’m asked by people why they can’t get anyone on the phone and why they have to wait in line. My staff should be double what it is.”  

Referencing a common refrain from county commissioners that county departments “hold the line” by not increasing budgets over previous years, Krantz said, “holding the line is not keeping up with the cost of living for employees and the county has to at least keep up with the cost of living.”  

A 2.5% wage increase across the county results in a cost of just over $1 million. An increase of 2% would result in a roughly $861,000 cost, while 3% would mean a cost of about $1.29 million. 

Commissioners worried that too large of an increase could result in a budget deficit when it comes time to make payroll.  

“The county has limited funding under property taxes,” Commissioner Pam Holmquist said. “I wish we could afford more — you all do a great job. But the bottom line is that we have to look at where this is going to come from.”  

Pointing out that the county’s reserves have dropped the last two budgets and are expected to again in the coming fiscal year, Commissioner Randy Brodehl said an increase above 2% puts the county at risk.  

“We are on a trajectory that is not safe,” he said. “The public has limited resources. This has an impact on our employees in terms of a raise, but this also has an impact on our community through taxes.”  

Even with an increase in salary, County Attorney Travis Ahner said deputy attorneys will still be underpaid compared to attorneys in the private sector. 

“I don’t think you need to increase by astronomical numbers, but I do think you need to hit a number that lets staff know they are valued, and you want to keep them around.”  

Flathead County Sheriff’s Office deputies make less than their counterparts throughout the state, Sheriff Brian Heino said, making it increasingly difficult to recruit and retain employees.  

“The county has amazing, hardworking and adaptive staff,” Heino said. “This is an opportunity to retain and maintain key staff through competitive wages, while balancing taxpayer dollars.” 

County Administrator Pete Melnick recommended up to a 2% increase based on budget figures and changes in property tax laws passed by the state Legislature.  

“There’s still a lot of budget and revenue uncertainty, and we’re still trying to figure out how some of those laws will impact our budget,” Melnick said. “We feel confident in anything between 1% and 2%. Anything above that and you take some budget risk beyond this year.” 

The compensation board recommends the base salary for elected officials, and then the commissioners approve any increase, and a matching salary increase for county employees. State law dictates that county employees’ salaries are based on the salaries of elected officials. 

On Tuesday, Heino also put before the board a proposal to increase the base wages for sheriff’s deputies beyond the cost-of-living increase. However, several board members including the commissioners said they couldn’t vote on the proposal without having numbers on how that would impact the county’s budget.  

The board voted to table the issue until June 17.