(Cass Co) The Cass County Board of Supervisors, acting as the Compensation Board, approved a compensation schedule for County Elected Officials for Fiscal Year 2026 by a 4-1 vote.
The compensation includes flat rate increases of $1,000 for the Board of Supervisors, $2,000 for the Treasurer and Recorder, and $3,200 for the Auditor, Attorney and Sheriff. Supervisor Steve Green explained some of the things they took into consideration to determine the salary increases.
Green said they also considered the Consumer Price Index, Cost of Living Index, Rural Mainstreet Index, and Regional Economic Indexes.
Cass County Sheriff John Westering expressed concern as the raise is not where it needs to be.
Deputies are paid a percentage of the Sheriff’s base salary. In Cass County, it is 70-percent, which was set by the Union. Westering noted that in comparable counties it is 80 to 85-percent.
A question was also raised about why the Auditor’s increase is on the higher end. The board explained that it was based on perceived workload and the state has put more weight and deadlines on the Auditor. Board Chair Steve Baier noted that if someone can do the Auditor’s job for the County, they can also be the Business Manager for the school district as those skills are transferable, and counties around the state are losing Auditor’s to School Districts.
Following some lengthy discussion, the Board voted 4 to 1 to approve the increases as presented. Wendy Richter voted no.
The Cass County Board of Supervisors is acting as the Compensation Board due to changes in Iowa property tax laws under Senate File 2442, signed by Governor Kim Reynolds on May 1, 2024. This law allows county boards of supervisors to take over the duties of compensation boards, which set pay levels for elected officials. On October 15, 2024, the Cass County Board formalized their decision to assume these responsibilities under Iowa Code, choosing not to re-establish a separate compensation board.
