Hennepin County Board of Commissioners vote to give selves 49% raise (since 2016) -- to $182,141

[progree]

Last edited Tue Aug 6, 2024, 12:29 PM - Edit history (1)

Hennepin County Board of Commissioners vote to give selves 49% raise, WCCO News 8/1/24

. . . Right now, Hennepin County Commissioners make $122,225 a year. It's been that way since 2016. But starting next year, it jumps to $182,141 a year. It's an increase of 49%.

The board approved the raise in a 4-2 vote. Chair Irene Fernando proposed the increase. The raises would kick in on Jan. 1, 2025.

Based on a market analysis, she said it puts them on the low end of what assistant county administrators earn. She said it also makes their salaries more competitive and equitable compared to peer jurisdictions.

. . . For context, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz is eligible to earn $149,550. He instead chose the lower amount of $127,629.

While there was some division about their proposed raise, the county board voted unanimously to increase the salaries of the Hennepin County attorney and sheriff.

Both will make $218,272 starting next year. Sheriff Dawanna Witt is currently making $185,775, while Attorney Mary Moriarty is making $195,065.

Edited to add link:
https://www.cbsnews.com/minnesota/news/hennepin-county-board-of-commissioners-vote-to-give-selves-49-raise/

[question everything]

1. Well... I think there is a difference between county administrators who can work in private

market and the commissioners.

They should have started with 10 - 15% and then revisit next year.

[iemanja]

2. That's why my property taxes went up 33% this year.

[geardaddy]

3. Link?

I bet Marion Greene voted for it.

[progree]

4. Link (thanks for asking :)

https://www.cbsnews.com/minnesota/news/hennepin-county-board-of-commissioners-vote-to-give-selves-49-raise/

As to who favors it:

"Chair Irene Fernando proposed the increase"

Opposed: Kevin Anderson, District 7 Commissioner
"The amount that is being proposed for our specific salaries are well outside the range that we would offer to adjust for other job classifications," said Kevin Anderson, District 7 Commissioner. He is one of two commissioners who voted against the raise."

[geardaddy]

5. Thank you.

A 49% raise really is kind of astounding. I know it's been 8 years since they had a raise, but it seems a little over the top.

[iemanja]

6. They retracted this

They got too much push back, particularly from a union (AFSCME?) that noted they only got a 1% raise.

[progree]

7. Hennepin County commissioners walk back plan to give themselves 49% raise, WCCO News 8/6/2024

https://www.cbsnews.com/minnesota/news/hennepin-county-commissioners-walk-back-plan-to-give-themselves-49-raise/
blah blah same as OP. New stuff:

However, on Tuesday, Board Chair Irene Fernando, who proposed the increases, withdrew both motions to allow for "other commissioners to generate compensation methodologies that may be more palatable."

At the time of approving the motion, Fernando said that, based on market analysis, it puts them on the low end of what assistant county administrators earn and that raising their salaries would make them more competitive.

In an open letter to constituents, Commissioner Angela Conley apologized for previously supporting the measure.

"After hearing from many of you, I now realize that my support of a pay increase goes against many of your values as constituents," Conley wrote. "At this point, I will listen to any compromises that are more palatable to our constituency and work with my colleagues to reach an agreeable solution."

From the OP:

It's been that way since 2016. But starting next year ((i.e. in 2025)), it jumps to $182,141 a year. It's an increase of 49%. ((that was the original proposal -Progree))

I checked the CPI (Consumer Price Index). Between June 2016 and June 2025 it rose 34.2%, (I projected June 2025 as 3% more than June 2024. June 2024 is the latest CPI data. I don't know when the 2016 change took effect. Probably the new change would have taken effect January 1, 2025... so maybe I should have used Jan 2016 - Jan 2025 (projected) but doubt would make a real difference).

CPI: https://data.bls.gov/timeseries/CUSR0000SA0

So they tried to give themselves a nearly extra 15 percentage points above the cost of living for that 9 year period.

Myself, I thought county commissioners was a public service elected office similar to state legislators and that the pay was kind of weak, Well, I was sure wrong. Making more than the governor, sigh.

and what kind of qualifications are needed to be a county commissioner?

We've got 4 names now, 4 of the 6 and how they voted.

I'm embarrased that Irene Fernando is my commissioner.

Edited to add:

https://www.mprnews.org/story/2024/08/06/hennepin-county-commissioners-withdraw-proposal-to-give-themselves-a-49-percent-pay-bump

County workers in AFSCME Local 34 attended the board meeting to protest the raise. In a statement given out by the union, they said they serve as the frontline workers of Hennepin County.

Kevin Chavis, the union’s Member Team Action Coordinator, said there is a shortage of staff and a high turnover rate.

“We want 49 percent more workers,” he said. “We also ask the community, what would you like to see Hennepin County do more of? Where are they dropping the ball?"

Kate Liska is a case management assistant in Hennepin County’s Housing Stability Department, and she said the union workers want more money for county services.

“We have incredibly long wait times right now for basic services, people can’t get their benefits managed or turned on, and struggle to get through when they need those sorts of things,” Liska says.

Union leaders said they were offered only a 1 percent wage increase for 2025, followed by another increase of .5 percent in 2026 and in 2027.

Proposed raises for the sheriff and county attorney were also withdrawn in Tuesday’s meeting.