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Commission Minutes—July 28, 2023 5769 <br />department's budget. She said the County's vision insurance is not self-funded, the County pays the <br />premium and the insurance company handles the rest. <br />MOTION, passed <br />Mrs. Scherling moved and Mr. Breitling seconded to approve the 2024 <br />preliminary budget for the Internal Service Funds as presented. On roll call <br />vote, the motion carried unanimously. <br />16. SALARY DISCUSSIONS <br />Mr. Peterson said the 2024 preliminary budget includes a 5.1% cost of living increase for all County <br />staff. He said the Commission also needs to discuss condensing the pay scale to 12 steps as <br />presented by Gallagher. He said reducing the number of steps in the County's pay matrix has an <br />impact not only to the 2024 budget, but all budgets moving forward. Mr. Peterson said over the next <br />few years the County will also have to figure out a new retirement plan as the current plan will be <br />closed for incoming employees in 2025. He said he supports a 3% COLA and no step compression. <br />Mr. Grindberg said he would like to see a five year forecast of how condensing the pay matrix will <br />affect the cost of staff salaries. He said additional data and information is needed before he would <br />be comfortable reducing the matrix to 12 steps. Mr. Kapitan said he is in favor of condensing the <br />matrix to 12 steps. Mr. Grindberg said he is concerned with staffing in the Sheriff's Office, namely in <br />the Jail. Mr. Wilson said the proposal to condense the County's pay matrix was designed by <br />Gallagher and Ms. Peters to benefit lower pay grades in the first steps. He said this will help <br />increase pay for lower grade positions, including the Sheriff's Office. <br />Ms. Peters discussed the step study completed by Gallagher. She said the County's current matrix <br />has 17 to 21 steps. She said the study was recommended by Department Heads who were <br />concerned the large number of steps were not competitive. She said Gallagher concluded the <br />County's salary range is competitive, however, actual salaries are under market due to the high <br />number of steps it takes to reach the top of the pay scale. Ms. Peters said Gallagher's <br />recommendation is that the County implement a 12 step matrix and they have estimated the cost to <br />be $310,00 or 1.45% increase to current payroll. She in the 12 step matrix, grades All to B23 would <br />reach midpoint at step 5, grades B31 to C52 would reach midpoint at step 6, and grades D61 and <br />higher would reach midpoint at step 7. She said this method would help with compression issues on <br />the lower grades in the matrix. <br />Mr. Grindberg said he is not comfortable agreeing to condense the number of steps at this time. He <br />said he would like additional time to consider the request and get additional information on future <br />budget impacts. <br />Mr. Breitling said in the past the Commission has adjusted the Sheriff's Office salaries specifically. <br />He said the Commission could consider making an adjustment to the Sheriff's Office staff to address <br />the issue rather than the entire pay matrix. Ms. Peters said the Correctional Officer or other specific <br />position could be sent to Gallagher for review. <br />MOTION, failed <br />Mr. Kapitan moved to approve the 12 step matrix proposal. The motion failed <br />due to a lack of a second. <br />MOTION, passed <br />Mr. Grindberg moved and Mr. Peterson seconded approve a 3% cost of living <br />increase as part of the 2024 preliminary budget. On roll call vote, the motion <br />carried with Commissioner Peterson, Commissioner Grindberg, Commissioner <br />Breitling, and Commission Scherling voting "yes" and Commissioner Kapitan <br />voting "no".