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Dickinson Co. Supervisors Approve 6% Salary Increases For Elected And Non-Elected Employees

December 21, 2021 Steve Schwaller

(Spirit Lake)– Dickinson county employees will be getting a pay increase in the upcoming fiscal year. The Board of Supervisors today (Tues.) voted to approve a six percent across-the-board raise for elected officials. The county’s Compensation Board had recommended a seven percent across-the-board increase. Supervisor Tim Fairchild voted against the six percent. He recommended a smaller number with a caveat attached…

“How would you feel about five percent across-the-board and a thousand dollars when you present your covid booster information. Covid costs $40,000 on average to treat if you go to the hospital.”

Fellow supervisor Kim Wermersen said he wanted to keep it cleaner than that…

“I think for me I’m more apt to say let’s just give a percentage than to have things people have to meet, but that’s me.”

Supervisor Steve Clark said he eventually would like to see county employees pick up more of the cost of their health insurance…

“Absorbing the insurance and giving them a raise, we’re not doing the taxpayers any favors that way. I think that’s something we need to consider. Now I know it’s a little bit late this year, but I think that’s something we really need to work on in the future is to bring our employee contribution to their insurance, up.”

The motion to grant the six percent across-the-board raise for elected officials passed 4-to-1. A motion to grant the same increase across-the-board for non-elected employees was approved unanimously, along with a $1,000 increase for the Board of Supervisors Chairman for the upcoming fiscal year.

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