The Marion County Board of Supervisors met in special session Thursday morning. Among the items on the agenda were the salaries of elected officials for the coming year. The discussion was complex and wide ranging, because of a law that went into effect in Iowa January 1. The law, commonly known as the Back the Blue Act, is a mandate that counties pay the sheriff a rate comparable to police chiefs and high-ranking state law enforcement officials.

County officials across the state are grappling with the implementation of the law, which has led to some salary increases for sheriffs in other counties in excess of 50%. The Marion County Compensation board makes salary recommendations for elected officials to the board of supervisors, and they have recommended a 17.5% raise for the Sheriff’s position, 6.18% for the Supervisors, 8.18% for the Auditor, 7.24% for the Treasurer, 7.72% for the Recorder, and 8.58% for the County Attorney. The total recommended salary increase totals $49,077.

The Supervisors expressed concern over the impact of such raise discrepancies, both among the elected officials and for other county employees. All expressed how much they value the work of elected officials and other employees, and that the process was problematic, but ultimately the board voted to follow the recommendation of the compensation board with one exception–their own pay. They won’t be accepting the raise.

The board was split on adopting the compensation board’s salary recommendations, with Supervisor’s Raymie and McCombs voting in favor, with Supervisor Jahner in opposition.

Board of Supervisors Chairman Mark Raymie tells KNIA/KRLS News that it was a long process.

“Many sides were considered, and this is where we landed, and it conforms with the law passed by the legislature, and I think that’s about the best we can do. I mean, people aren’t afraid to express their opinions and you want to be able to do that in as robust a way as you can, but then do your best to make sure the math works for the taxpayer.”

In another matter, the board recommended a 20 cent per thousand reduction in the county levy rate, which will result in a property tax savings for Marion County residents.