DEPARTMENT: Human Resources
FILE TYPE: Consent Action
TITLE
title
Establishment Of 2026 Elected Officials’ And County Manager’s Compensation And Commissioner General Expense Allowance
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PURPOSE/ACTION REQUESTED
Establish 2026 Elected Officials’ and County Manager’s compensation.
SUMMARY
Elected Officials’ and County Manager compensation is reviewed annually. Elected Officials’ 2026 compensation must be established before year-end due to statutory requirements that do not provide for retroactive compensation, and which specify that compensation must be set annually.
Proposed 2026 Elected Officials’ and County Manager Compensation
All proposed salaries for 2026 have been computed based upon the proposed 2026 Unclassified Merit Compensation Policy and Plan (“Plan”), relevant statutory provisions and other pay increases provided to County staff. The 2026 salaries are initially established based upon the Unclassified Merit Compensation Policy and Plan. The proposed salaries actually payable in 2026 are established considering the Plan’s policy which limits the salaries of the County Attorney and County Sheriff to the maximum compensation to be paid to the County Manager. The proposed Plan provides for a 0.0% to 8.25% base adjustment for 2026. For the purposes of elected officials’ pay the annual salary will be issued in equal payments pursuant the number of annual pay dates in a given year commencing on the first Monday of the year through the Sunday proceeding the first Monday of the following year.
Under the Plan, a recommendation of the annual salary of County Commissioners for the next year shall be made by the Human Resources Director and County Manager and shall be based upon consistency with Dakota County’s compensation structure for unclassified positions and/or other metro-area market considerations. The average pay increases for other metro area County Commissioners in 2026 is anticipated to range from 2 percent to 7 percent, averaging 4 percent. Based on this and with consideration of the cost of living increases experienced by County residents, including the Social Security cost of living increase for 2026, the recommendation for the County Commissioner 2026 salary is $106,689.
Under the proposed Plan, the County Manager 2026 salary is $281,450 and the Sheriff is $237,146. The County Attorney 2026 salary is $253,938, which is the maximum of the salary range. The amount of merit increase in excess of the range maximum, $3,960, will be paid as a lump sum,
Process By Which A County Commissioner May Decline the 2026 Salary Increase
The Dakota County Board of Commissioners has established a process by which County Commissioners may individually decline their approved annual salary increase, in part or fully. The form to be used by a Commissioner to file an irrevocable notice to decline receipt of the proposed salary increase for 2026 is attached. A Commissioner who wishes to decline the approved salary increase, in part or in full, should complete, sign and return this form to the Human Resources Director prior to December 26, 2025, 4:30 p.m. This stipulation is included as a provision of the proposed 2026 Unclassified Employees’ Compensation Plan.
RECOMMENDATION
recommendation
Staff recommends adoption of the proposed resolution.
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EXPLANATION OF FISCAL/FTE IMPACTS
Funding is included in the County Manager’s recommended 2026 budget.
☐ None ☐ Current budget ☒ Other
☐ Amendment Requested ☐ New FTE(s) requested
RESOLUTION
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WHEREAS, the County Board will adopt the proposed 2026 Unclassified Employee Merit Compensation Policy and Plan provisions; and
WHEREAS, the County established a process within that Plan by which Elected Officials’ and the County Manager’s compensation is determined and it is necessary that proper compensation be established for all Elected Officials and the County Manager, pursuant to relevant provisions of the proposed 2026 Unclassified Employee Merit Compensation Policy and Plan; and
WHEREAS, it is the policy of Dakota County to provide equitable compensation and financial incentives.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Dakota County Board of Commissioners hereby establishes in the context of and consistent with the proposed 2026 Unclassified Employees Merit Compensation Policy and Plan and other relevant provisions, Elected Officials’ and County Manager’s 2026 compensation as follows:
County Commissioner, $106,689; County Manager, $281,450; County Attorney, $253,938 plus a $3,960 lump sum; County Sheriff, $237,146; 2026 payable compensation per current policy:
COUNTY COMMISSIONER *$106,689
COUNTY MANAGER $281,450
COUNTY ATTORNEY $253,938 + $3,960 lump sum
COUNTY SHERIFF $237,146
* Prior to 4:30 p.m. on December 19, 2025, a County Commissioner may file with the Human Resources Director an election to decline part, or all their 2026 salary increase. For any Commissioner filing such a declination of part of their 2026 salary increase shall receive their elected portion. A Commissioner filing a declination of their full increase, the 2026 compensation level shall be *$103,582; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Dakota County Board of Commissioners, in accordance with Minn. Stat. 383D.05, hereby establishes a Commissioner car/expense allowance for 2026 in the amount of $7,000 per year per Commissioner.
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PREVIOUS BOARD ACTION
24-577; 12/3/24
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment: Salary Declination Form
BOARD GOALS
☐ Thriving People ☐ A Healthy Environment with Quality Natural Resources
☐ A Successful Place for Business and Jobs ☒ Excellence in Public Service
CONTACT
Department Head: Andy Benish
Author: Andy Benish