Sedgwick County commissioners will earn over $100,000 each after voting for a raise
Sedgwick County commissioners will receive a 6.9% raise in 2023 after they voted to increase their base salary.
Starting next year, the five commissioners’ annual pay will climb from $95,000 to $101,527.
That’s less than the $113,626 a year that Wichita Mayor Brandon Whipple makes but significantly more than the other six Wichita City Council members’ $49,064 annual salaries.
County commissioners David Dennis, Jim Howell and Sarah Lopez voted for the raises while Pete Meitzner and outgoing commissioner Lacey Cruse voted against them.
“The Sedgwick County Board of County Commissioners collectively acts as the chief executive office for the county organization that has nearly 3,000 employees and an overall annual budget of $530 million,” Howell said in a text message. “Unlike Wichita council members or other commissioners across the state, Sedgwick County commissioners are full-time.”
The raises come amid an ongoing staffing shortage across county departments. Comcare, the county’s mental health service provider, and the Sedgwick County Jail are both in need of more than 100 employees, despite the commission recently approving pay raises for all county employees.
Employees on the county’s general pay plan received 8% raises, but the commission approved larger wage increases for some positions, particularly at Comcare, in an effort to increase hiring and retention.
Overall, the county has spent just over $30 million on wage increases in the last two years.
Commissioners set policy and approve a county budget for vital services such as EMS, 911, Comcare, corrections and the sheriff’s office. Commissioners also serve as the board of health, hearing panel on tax appeals, board of canvassers of elections and oversee Fire District 1.
On top of their base salary, commissioners receive an annual vehicle allowance of $4,800 and a $750 phone allowance.
At their Dec. 7 meeting, the commission also approved raises for the county register of deeds, clerk and treasurer. Starting in 2023, those three positions will have the same base salary as commissioners — a 3% increase from $98,570.
This story was originally published December 9, 2022 at 5:27 AM.