Faribault County commissioners made certain not to botch a pay raise for themselves in 2024.
In the past, the five-member board has waited until the last meeting of the year in December to raise their salaries.
Commissioners worked this year earning an annual salary of $22,205, the same as 2022 because they did not approve a resolution by the end of the year as required by state law.
But, this year they made sure to pass a resolution and they did it at their Nov. 21 meeting.
Commissioners Greg Young, John Roper and Bill Groskreutz voted to increase their annual salary by 10 percent to $24,425.84.
In addition, commissioners will continue to get paid a per diem of $80 a day for serving on any board, committee or commission of county government.
Board chairman Bruce Anderson and Tom Loveall, who both voted against the motion, did not respond to a request for comment.
Last December, the board sought advice from the county attorney on whether a 5 percent pay raise approved by a motion, rather than a resolution, was legal.
In the end, commissioners decided to forgo the pay hike and wait until this year to seek a 10 percent raise.
According to a news report, the 10 percent hike is the first pay raise the commissioners have had in three years.
However, minutes of past board meetings show that is not the case.
Their salary was increased in 2021 to $22,205, up from $21,558 they earned in 2020. It has remained at that amount for 2022 and this year.