Waldo County Commissioners Advance Budget With Market Rate Salary Adjustments

The Waldo County Commissioners held a special budget review session on September 29, 2026, approving market rate salary adjustments for ten non-union positions and a 3.4 percent COLA for the chief deputy. Commissioners also approved a housekeeping position increase in facilities and several reductions in the EMA and communications budgets. Two items, the judge of probate and sheriff salaries, were finalized after an executive session.

Key points

• Commissioners voted unanimously to increase the facilities housekeeping position from 20 to 32 hours per week, making it full time, on a recommendation from the Finance Advisory Committee.
• The board approved a market rate salary adjustment worksheet covering communications, county clerk, two DA's office positions, deeds, EMA director, facilities director, finance director, judge of probate, and sheriff, with the judge of probate set at $45,732.50 and the sheriff at $124,000.
• Commissioners voted to apply the 3.4 percent COLA to the chief deputy's salary for 2026, bringing it to $121,485.
• The EMA budget was approved with reductions: web portals to $4,410, dues to $600, food to $1,000, and supplies to $1,500.
• The communications center budget was approved with a $25,000 reduction from program software.
• Commissioner Brie raised a concern about duplication of effort among the department heads, commissioners, finance advisory committee, and budget committee, and asked for examples of other counties' finance committee bylaws.

Next steps

• The chair will reach out to other counties to gather examples of finance advisory committee bylaws and keep Commissioner Brie informed.
• The Finance Advisory Committee still needs to meet with Information Technology and Health, with IT scheduled for Friday.
• Job descriptions for the restructured DA's office positions (investigator and office manager) are expected before the end of the year.
• A commissioner will share a list of budget item thoughts for possible discussion on Thursday.

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