(Spirit Lake)– Elected officials in Dickinson county will be getting a four percent wage increase in the upcoming fiscal year.
The board of supervisors approved the increase on a vote of two-to-one this morning after a lengthy discussion and some compromising.
Supervisor David Gottsche suggested a five percent increase and Wayne Northey a two and-a-half raise. That left supervisor chair June Goldman in the middle. She suggested a 3.75 percent increase. But Northey said he was concerned over the potential for more cuts from the state resulting in more expenditures for the county. Gottsche at first refused to budge from his five percent figure…suggesting that if the county could afford the recent purchase of buildings on Ithaca Avenue, that it should be able to fund a five percent increase for employees. Gottsche later backed down though. After a motion by Northey to go with a three percent increase failed for lack of a second, Gottsche made a motion for the four percent increase. He and Goldman voted in favor. Northey refused to change his position and voted no.
The four percent increase flies in the face of a five percent hike recommended by the Compensation Board.
