Polk County supervisors have turned down a pay raise for a second year.
County supervisors at a meeting on Tuesday, March 24 declined a 3% salary boost, but approved that raise for all other elected county officials, including the auditor, county attorney, recorder, sheriff and treasurer. Those raises are set to take effect in the fiscal year that begins July 1, according to a county resolution.
Supervisors’ salaries will remain at $149,290 a year.
Last year’s changes came amid controversy over Supervisors Jill Altringer and Mark Holm deciding to keep their full-time jobs while serving on the county board, ostensibly a full-time position itself. Holm continues to work as a supervisor at the Iowa Department of Transportation. Altringer told the Register she works part-time as a contract lobbyist during the legislative session, adding she has a business partner who assists with clients.
Elected officials in the county have gotten raises every fiscal year since 2010-11, including an increase of 4% in 2024 recommended by the county compensation board. In 2025, the supervisors voted to disband the compensation board and vote on their own pay and that of other elected officials.
At Tuesday’s meeting, Holm asked for a 0% raise for supervisors. Altringer seconded the motion.
Supervisor Angela Connolly said she supported the motion but called out fellow supervisors working full-time jobs outside of the board.
“I’m not sure why you all are patting yourselves on the back since you both have another job and getting paid full-time,” Connolly said. “So I know $5,000 isn’t much, but we didn’t take a raise last year because it was a big stink and we’re not going to take a raise this year.”
“But just so you know, I think it’s crap,” she continued. “But I’m going to go for it.”
“I’d be happy to lower the salary, too,” Holm responded.
“Well, that’s fine, too,” Connolly said ahead of the vote.
How much of a raise did elected officials receive?
The highest-paid official will continue to be County Attorney Kimberly Graham, with an annual salary of $270,674.
The auditor, recorder and treasurer will each make $158,382. The sheriff will make $225,229.
The supervisors also unanimously approved 3% raises for county employees who are members of AFSCME Local 1868. Supervisors approved the raise last year for fiscal years 2026 and 2027, according to a county resolution.
Virginia Barreda is the Des Moines city government reporter for the Register. She can be reached at vbarreda@dmreg.com.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Polk County supervisors skip raise for second year in a row
Reporting by Virginia Barreda, Des Moines Register / Des Moines Register
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