Sponsor: Human Resources
Title
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Adopt the Proposed Ramsey County Commissioner’s Salary Ordinance for 2026
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Recommendation
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Adopt the Proposed Ramsey County Commissioner’s Salary Ordinance for 2026.
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Background and Rationale
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The Ramsey County Home Rule Charter section 5.01.A.1 requires that certain acts of the Ramsey County Board shall be by ordinance. The provisions of the Ramsey County Home Rule Charter relating to compensation for the Board of Commissioners in section 2.01.D state that:
a. The Ramsey County Board may determine the amount of the annual salary of its members by passage of a salary ordinance;
b. The salary ordinance must be passed by July 1 of the year prior to the effective date of the ordinance; and
c. The ordinance shall not become effective until the first business day of the following year (January 1, 2026).
Ramsey County employees with settled bargaining agreements and unrepresented employees received a general wage increase of 3.00% in 2025. It has normally been the intention of the Ramsey County Board of Commissioners that future salary increases for the Ramsey County Board of Commissioners be set at a rate that matches the general increase in wages given to employees in the previous year.
An increase of 3.00% for the Ramsey County Board of Commissioners will result in a salary increase equivalent to the general wage increase given to employees in the calendar year 2025. The current annual salary of the Board of Commissioners is $104,077 for County Board Members, and $109,338 for the County Board Chair. The proposed salary ordinance would increase commissioners’ salary to $107,199 for County Board Members and to $112,559 for the County Board Chair.
The Ramsey County Home Rule Charter section 5.02 states each proposed ordinance shall receive two readings: first, at the time it is presented, and second, at the time of the public hearing as required by law. Both readings may be waived if a copy of the ordinance is supplied to each member of the Ramsey County Board prior to its introduction. In accordance with these requirements, the proposed Ramsey County Commissioner’s Salary Ordinance for 2026 was provided to each commissioner prior to its introduction on June 3, 2025. Both the first and second reading were waived by duly made motion and majority vote.
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County Goals (Check those advanced by Action)
☐ Well-being ☐ Prosperity ☐ Opportunity ☒ Accountability
Racial Equity Impact
There is no specific racial equity impact associated with the proposed action.
Community Participation Level and Impact
This action is strictly operational and internal facing. It is the intent of the Ramsey County Board of Commissioners that future salary increases for the commissioners matches the general increase in wages given to employees in the previous year.
A public hearing was held on June 24, 2025 to allow the public an opportunity to comment. There was public testimony from one person during the public hearing. The Chief Clerk’s Office received one public comment prior to the public hearing, but that individual did not request to testify at the hearing.
☒ Inform ☐ Consult ☐ Involve ☐ Collaborate ☐ Empower
Fiscal Impact
Funding will be included in the proposed 2026-2027 biennial budget.
Last Previous Action
On June 24, 2025, the Ramsey County Board waived the second reading and held the public hearing date for the proposed 2026 Ramsey County Commissioner’s Salary ordinance (Resolution B2025-132).
On June 3, 2025, the Ramsey County Board waived the first reading and set the public hearing date for the proposed 2026 Ramsey County Commissioner’s Salary ordinance (Resolution B2025-105).
Attachments
1. Proposed Salary Ordinance
2. Schedule of Events
3. Public Comment