County Commission Addresses Pay Discrepancy, Transparency Portal, and Livestream Issues
Travis Bateman
Farmer Staff Writer
The county commission meeting on May 5, included discussion on several topics of interest, including a pay discrepancy affecting sheriff’s office employees, the future of a financial transparency portal, and the continued suspension of livestreamed meetings.
Pay Discrepancy Identified
Investigations Lt. Edward Martinez of the sheriff’s office presented findings from an internal audit that revealed a wage discrepancy affecting ten employees between 2023 and 2025. According to County Auditor Erica Johnsrud, the total amount of underpayment was approximately $10,000.
The discrepancy was attributed to hourly wage differences ranging from about 10 to 30 cents, amounting to roughly $1,000 per employee over the three-year period. The issue was initially discovered in the fall of 2025.
Vice Chairman Joel Brown said the discrepancy stemmed from an inconsistency within the approved pay scale. “Sworn [pay scale] had one spot where the increase in wage did not match the top,” Brown said, noting an increase of 1 percent rather than 1.5 percent.
Auditor Johnsrud emphasized that employees were paid according to the pay scale approved by the commission and as documented in signed status forms.
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