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Minneapolis News
Chandra Colvin

Hennepin County commissioners plan vote on smaller pay bump

The board withdrew a previous proposal that would have given them a 49 percent salary increase

A squad car passes a building
The Hennepin County Government Center in downtown Minneapolis is seen on Aug. 5.
Matt Sepic | MPR News

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Hennepin County commissioners are planning to vote Tuesday on a more modest pay increase following public criticism of the previously proposed 49 percent increase.  

“It has been very evident that this is a topic that needed further work,” said board chair Irene Fernando, who introduced the previous proposal.  

They are now voting to increase their salaries by 5 percent at the beginning of 2025 and another 5 percent on Jan. 1, 2026. This would bring commissioner pay from $122,225 to $134,753.51 annually.  

The proposal comes from commissioners Angela Conley and Kevin Anderson.  

Conley said the increase aligns with the rates that county employees have experienced in raises within the last five years, during which commissioners’ pay remained stagnant.  

“We know our employees are the foundation of all the good work that we do in Hennepin County. And our goal has always been to lift up our employees first and then follow behind,” said Anderson, who voted against the previous proposal.  

Anderson said the increase does not go above any historic cost of living increase that employees have received in the past.  

County Attorney Mary Moriarty and Sheriff Dawanna S. Witt are also looking at a bump in pay. Commissioner Heather Edelson introduced a proposed pay raise for the two elected officials, after it was withdrawn with the previous commissioners’ pay proposal.  

“I don’t see why we would hold these two roles back and anchor them to our salary,” commissioner Marion Greene said in reference to the withdrawal.  

Both positions currently make under $200,000. The proposal would bring the county attorney’s and sheriff’s salaries to $224,820 in 2025, with a 3 percent increase in 2026 that would bring their salaries to $231,564 in 2026.

While most commissioners agreed with the increase, Fernando expressed her concern that, if approved, the positions will be valued at over $96,000 more than commissioners. 

“In my perspective, we are perpetuating that those who enforce and prosecute the law are valued greater than those who create the law and create policies that serve residents,” Fernando said.  

Edelson said she looked at surrounding counties and compared salaries to Hennepin County for the same positions. With the size and population of the county, she found the current pay to be insufficient.  

If the pay increases are approved, they will go into effect on Jan. 1, 2025.