Elected officials in Jefferson County will see their wages increase significantly starting next year.

Seeking to keep pace with other counties in the region, the Jefferson County commissioners approved a salary increase for elected officials such as the county clerks, attorney, treasurer, assessor and sheriff.

That increase, which takes effect next year, will see those roles paid five percent more than their existing 2026 rates starting in 2027, and then four percent more in each of the three years after that. It's a cumulative increase, meaning the four percent added in 2028 is calculated off the 2027 rate, not the current rate, and repeats in both 2029 and 2030 before the salary rates can be reviewed again.

Many nearby counties like Saline and Gage are putting similar future increases on the books. And so in order to attract and retain employees to this specific Southeast Nebraska region, the Jefferson county board felt they had to follow suit.

"At the end of the day, my focus here has always been to be able to recruit and retain a quality workforce that's going to serve our citizens in the most cost-efficient manner possible," commissioner Mark Schoenrock said. "So you've got to be concerned with both sides of the equation, where you are concerned about the recruiting and retaining of a quality workforce and that you're paying enough to accomplish that objective. And that you're also responsible to our taxpayers. You never forget that it's tax revenue that pays those salaries."

The county's decision was largely informed by a salary study conducted by the Nebraska Association of County Officials (NACO), which compared and contrasted existing pay rates for people in different positions across all of Nebraska's counties. That study showed salaries in Jefferson County lagged behind those in counties of similar size and geography, part of the reason why the board agreed to the bump. 

During the discussion process, Shawna Taylor, the Jefferson County clerk of the district court, underscored that, in establishing the pay rate for the role of clerk, county caseload should be considered just as strongly as factors like geography and population. She presented data to the commissioners showing that the Jefferson County District Court - covering both criminal and civil cases - tackles about as many cases per year as Saline County - even though close to twice as many people live in Saline County compared to Jefferson.

"Jefferson County is one of the few counties that serves a larger population of self-represented litigants for several reasons, i.e., a lack of resources (limited attorney availability in the area or the inability to afford legal representation)," Taylor said in an email to NCN. "As a result, many individuals rely on the District Clerk’s Office to provide information and resources to understand court processes. While Clerks cannot provide legal advice or opinions, we are frequently asked to explain procedures, filings, and timelines. Doing so requires careful neutrality and strict compliance with Nebraska Supreme Court Rules and the direction of the court.

It is a complex and demanding position, but also a very rewarding one. My hope is that future discussions will more fully consider caseload, responsibility, and accountability when evaluating compensation for this role."

On top of those considerations, the salary study showed that Jefferson County employees were being paid less, on the whole, than their similarly-sized counterparts. And with many of those other counties - like Saline and Gage - already approving salary increases, people who live and work in Jefferson County seemed to agree that some level of change was needed. 

“I feel like we all need a bump,” county sheriff Nick Georgi said in the board's discussion in December. “I’ve only been here since 2021, but over the past few years we’ve given raises, and given raises, and given raises to our employees – because we’ve needed to – but we’re stuck on a resolution for ours. I feel like the elected officials have fallen behind. We need to get caught up. We’ve all been locked in for so many years by resolution, and our employees have gotten more. And it’s coming to a point, in my opinion, where I’m the one taking the liability.” 

The salaries for the three commissioners and the surveyor will remain the same.

Per Nebraska statute, salaries for elected officials can only be established every four years. That's in contrast to employees of each of the departments in question - such as police deputies - who could have their salaries adjusted every year. Meanwhile, those at the head of the departments are subject to review only every four years. 

"It's challenging because you have to set the salaries for four years, and that's required in Nebraska statute," Schoenrock said. "It's challenging because you don't know all the variables are going into that for four years. I mean, it's hard enough to forecast what's going to happen in the next year, much less two, three, or four years out. That's something that I'm going to look at, to see if maybe we can change that statute, change it so maybe the county board does this every other year instead of every four years. Because it is probably close to impossible to forecast what's going to happen that far down the line."

The final decision was not a simple process. At this month's final discussion, commissioner Michael Dux first proposed an increase of five percent in 2027, then an increase of 3.5 percent in each of the next three years. That motion died when it was not seconded. Schoenrock then proposed the 5/4/4/4 plan, saying it would help county employees better address future cost of living increases. Dux seconded that motion, and the pair voted in favor of the revised motion; Danielle Schwab voted against it. 

In her dissent, Schwab cited sustainability, saying what another county can afford doesn’t automatically translate to what Jefferson County can sustain.

"Our budget margin has narrowed in recent years. That doesn’t mean raises can't happen and are not deserved — it means long-term commitments need to be weighed carefully so we don’t create pressure that later shows up as levy increases, service reductions, or emergency decisions," Schwab said in a post on Facebook following the vote. "I have respect for the work our elected officials do and the responsibility each office carries. My focus in this decision was not on any individual, but on setting a structure that works across all offices and aligns with the county’s long-term obligations. My responsibility as a commissioner is to make decisions I can defend not just today, but years from now, to taxpayers and future boards."

Schwab did not present a counter-proposal; the 5/4/4/4 proposal passed in the 2-1 vote. It will take effect next year.