Supervisors accept salary recommendations

Despite some concerns over where the county is positioned financially heading into the new year, the Winnebago Board of County Supervisors last Tuesday agreed with the recommmendations presented by the County Compensation board on salaries for elected officials for the upcoming year.
On a motion by Jensvold and seconded by Durby, the Supervisors moved to approve the Compensation Board recommendation of the following increases in salaries for county offices: Supervisors—3.5 percent;  Attorney—zero percent;  Auditor—3 percent; Recorder—3.22 percent; Sheriff 4 percent; and,  Treasurer 3.16 percent. The Attorney position, the board noted, was left at a zero percent increase, due to the fact that the current office holder will be leaving at the end of the month, and the uncertainty of a replacement.
Supervisor, Bill Jensvold noted that in their case, the board noted that two-thirds of Iowa counties pay their elected officials more than Winnebago. Jensvold also personally cautioned against using any county financial difficulties to lower recommendations. “Just because we have budget issues, does not decrease their worth.” He added, that the board noted salaries make up less than one percent of the county budget.
As has been the case, Supervisor Mike Stendsrud looked at the long-term impact of continually raising salaries in a small, rural county.
In the end, all three indiviuals agreed that the county is well run, and that they have those officials to thank for that, when they unanimously voted to accept the recommendations.