Elected Official Compensation Board Meets

The Powder River County Compensation Board met Monday afternoon, tasked with looking into the salaries for county elected officials, and whether or not a pay raise would be enacted.

Members of the board include the three county commissioners – Lee Randall, Lori Fortner, and John Olson, as well as elected officials including Clerk & Recorder Cynde Jo Gatlin, Treasurer/Assessor Hattie Arithson, Sheriff/Coroner Devin Boman, County Attorney Jeff Noble, and two county taxpayers – Todd Gardner and Ann Emmons.

The elected official salary covers the 11 elected county officials as well as their deputies, totaling salaries for 19 people employed by the county.

The Consumer Price Index was first discussed. The CPI is a measure of the average change over time in prices of consumer goods and services, and is put out by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. The data put out at the meeting indicated a 4.1% annual increase in 2023. The 2022 data was at 8.0%, while our research indicates the data through June 2024 is at 3.0%.

This data is used by the board to indicate where the elected official salaries are in relation to inflation – higher CPI rates with extended periods of stagnating wages generate less purchasing power.

The board also went over a survey of Montana county elected officials. 31 of the 56 counties had responded to the survey, which showed the base salary for elected officials throughout the state. Powder River County, paying $49,478.97 for full-time elected officials, was amongst the lowest paying on the list, with only three listed counties paying less – Prairie County, Golden Valley, and Petroleum counties. Petroleum County paid the least of those 31 counties, at $36,072.24, while Lewis & Clark paid the most, at $86,690. Neighboring county wages included Rosebud, paying $71,194.29, and Carter, paying $65,926.76. Both of those counties have larger tax bases than Powder River County, and both increased wages in 2023 – 8% or $2 per hour in Rosebud, and 6.4% in Carter County. Powder River County elected officials saw a 7% raise in 2023. Data for Custer County was not listed.

A point brought up several times during the meeting by Sheriff Boman was the wages of his deputies, which are limited by statute to 90% of the elected official’s salary. This limit is in place for all deputies of elected officials, which also includes other offices in the courthouse such as the deputy clerk & recorder. Boman emphasized that because of the limited pay, his ability to hire and maintain deputies is severely limited, especially when other counties are paying their deputies a higher wage. Deputies in Powder River County start out at $23.49 per hour, and while overtime hours are available and used regularly, they are paid at that base rate. Boman’s research indicated other counties pay a significantly higher rates; Rosebud County starts out at $31.07 an hour, and many counties such as Wibaux start out in the $30 per hour range. Several other counties also have more limited duties along with the pay increase – Prairie County, for example, does not have a detention center.

Commissioner Randall indicated that the county budget for the coming year, while still in the planning stages, was looking good, with proceeds from the Belle Creek oilfield exceeding projections.

Discussion was held on what a raise might look like; with comments generally in favor of a raise for elected officials. Justice of the Peace Cathy Landa indicated that her case load was the highest her office has ever had, and she also noted that when positions are open, it can be difficult to get people to apply when the pay is not competitive.

Several members of the public were in attendance, including Floyd Huckins, who commented that he would like to see money invested in people over infrastructure projects, as that money stays in the community, circulating money back into the local economy. John Wilson commented that his father used to train other people’s workers - further noting that his father didn’t pay well, so after gaining knowledge the workers left for better paying jobs.

Todd Gardner said that he thought a 5-7% raise would be in the range acceptable to taxpayers, with Ann Emmons agreeing. Todd went on to make a motion for a 6% raise, with Emmons seconding. The vote failed by a 5 to 4 margin, with a roll call vote indicating the following: Emmons: Yes, Gardner: Yes, Gatlin: Yes, Noble: No, Arithson: No, Boman: No, Olson: No, Fortner: No, Randall: Yes.

In addition to a majority vote, two of the commissioners have to vote in the affirmative for a vote to pass, in this particular board.

The “no” voters indicated that they felt the 6% amount was too low.

A second motion was made by Commissioner Olson for a 12% raise, with Treasurer Arithson seconding. This vote also failed, by a 5 to 4 margin. Votes were: Emmons: No, Gardner: No, Gatlin: No, Noble: No, Arithson: Yes, Boman: Yes, Olson: Yes, Fortner: Yes, Randall: No.

A third motion was held for a 10% raise, this time by Clerk & Recorder Gatlin, with Sheriff Boman seconding. This vote was approved by a 6 to 3 vote. Votes were: Emmons: No, Gardner: No, Gatlin: Yes, Noble: No, Arithson: Yes, Boman: Yes, Olson: Yes, Fortner: Yes, Randall: Yes.

The 10% raise will come out to $43,582.58 in total increased wages per year, accounting for all elected officials and deputies in their base pay. The 2023-24 county budget was around $28.5 million dollars, with around $2.3 million of that budget paid by county taxpayers. The county commissioners receive ¾ full-time wages.

Next on the agenda was the $2,000 optional stipend. All four elected officials who are eligible for the stipend wished to receive it, those being the Treasurer, Justice of the Peace, District Court Clerk, and Clerk & Recorder. The Sheriff also receives a stipend automatically, and the Superintendent of Schools a $400 stipend. John Olson motioned to approved the stipend for those eligible, with Lori Fortner seconding. The motion passed unanimously.