(Red Oak) The Montgomery County Board of Supervisors voted 3-2 to keep the Compensation Board for at least one more year. The vote came after a lengthy discussion over the issue over the past two weeks. The supervisors tabled the vote one week ago. Supervisor Alex Burton volunteered to reach out and collect feedback from county department heads and one member of the compensation board.
In 2023, the Iowa legislature passed a bill granting county boards of supervisors the authority to dissolve county compensation boards. The change was pitched as providing the county supervisor with greater flexibility and local control, and as aligning salaries more directly with budget/taxpayer considerations, rather than having a separate board make recommendations.
Burton says the departments could go either way on keeping or dissolving the compensation board, because they claimed the supervisors did not review the compiled information. Burton stated that the biggest issue is who will do the homework if the supervisors decide to dissolve the compensation board.
Supervisor Mike Olson stated that in his 10 years dealing with the compensation board, he did not recall ever reviewing their homework.
Supervisor Mark Peterson says up until last year, the only option they had was to cut everything by the same percentage. He said now each department can be dealt with individually, giving the supervisors more leeway.
Supervisor Bryant Amos says the bottom line is that, no matter the recommendation, it all comes down to the budget.
County Auditor Jill Ozuna states that the legislative requirement is for elected officials to adjust their salaries according to the cost of living. If any deviation is made, the justification must be supported by showing the work that led to it.
Alex Burton is taking on the duty of sending out the information to the compensation board members.
Bryant Amos and Mike Olson voted to resolve the compensation board. Charla Schmid, Mark Peterson, and Alex Burton voted to keep the compensation board for at least one more year.
