Government : Benton County Compensation Board met to set salaries for FY2027

On Thursday evening, November 13, 2025 the Benton County Compensation Board met to discuss salaries for the elected officials. Representatives were available for all of the officials. John Yundt was elected as the Chair, and John Ketchen as the Vice-Chair, with Melinda Schottmer as Secretary. The meeting began with a review of the minutes from last year with the meeting lasting just shy of an hour. 

The meeting began with a statement by the chair instructing the representatives to give a reason as to why they felt their elected official should receive a pay raise. This was quickly derailed by a discussion about how Iowa Law has set guidelines for the elected officials to receive a raise...85% of the rate of pay goes to the second in command. They also discussed at length how their decision would not help those at the bottom of the pay scale.  

They discussed ways of hiring, which are set by the State. The discussion then went into the cost to live in Benton County and how people are feeling pressed and are straining to even pay their bills. Another representative said that the average social security income is $24,000. 

A brief discussion was had about union raises and if they should match what the union does. Tracy Seeman said that three departments have boards that set the raises for their own department heads: Conservation, Assessor and the Health Board. Seeman stated that these raises are always greater than anyone else in the county.  

Seeman explained a bit about the budget. He said that the departments have been under budget the last few years. He also explained that under the county attorney's budget, they have to cover juvenile expenses. The example was given that for one juvenile alone, they received a bill for $180,000 but only had $150,000 budgeted in the department for the whole year. So then a budget amendment had to be entered to cover the costs. 

It was decided to recommend to the supervisors that the salaries would be held at the same amount with no increase for this year.  

Current salaries for the elected officials are: 

Auditor - $101,441.46

Treasurer - $95,897.07

Recorder - $95,897.07

Attorney - $146,534.51

Sheriff $- $140,290.32

Supervisor - $53,214.55