Commissioners establish salaries with difficulty

BERNALILLO — It was a long Sandoval County Commission meeting Dec. 11, and it wasn’t because Jay Block and Dave Heil said goodbye to their seats on the commission.

it was because commissioners voted on salaries for the elected positions in the county, which included pay for the future board of county commissioners.

A measure to raise salaries was approved by voters in November, but discussion of how much that raise should be generated a temporary stall in the meeting.

The amendment to New Mexico’s Constitution proposed that the salaries of county officers should be established by the board of county commissioners. Voters approved it 46,284-24,234.

“Sandoval County has adopted a wage structure that provides a salary range for each position at the county. The wage structure establishes a minimum, maximum and midpoint for each position and is evaluated annually as a part of the county’s budget process,” the agenda item states.

When the initial salaries were presented, it reflected a significant raise for all elected offices. Commissioners were raised to $46,927.04, assessor to $103,951.16, clerk to $103,951.16, treasurer to $103,951.16, sheriff to $108,405.53 and probate judge to $45,736.70.

However, commissioners were uncomfortable with how much the raise was for commissioners.

“My District 2 is $34,000. If we pass this, it would go to $46. That’s a $12,000 raise. I mean, no offense to my buddy John Herr, who’s going to be coming in here, but I think balancing it, I think $39 would be an acceptable pay,” Block said.

He added that he is fine with the other elected officials’ pays.

In support of the proposed raise, Commissioner Josh Jones talked about the demands of the job, which are different in every district of the county.

“As commissioner for District Five — and I’m just gonna only speak for myself — 3,000 square miles district, right? So, we just talked about going out and visiting with community members. Took us roughly two hours and 45 minutes to get out to Jicarilla Apache Nation, right? That’s just drive time out there, two hours and 45 minutes right back; we don’t have any staff. So, you lose a whole day. Going out and meeting new members now, you know, other commissioners, the territory isn’t as large, but I think what is proposed is reasonable compensation,” he said.

Heil proposed a 15% raise, which would bring commissioners up to about $44,000 but didn’t disclose the other elected officials from his motion. The motion died with no second. Mike Meek wouldn’t go higher than a 10% raise. He asked how commissioners could justify the pay for all elected positions because when they are elected, there aren’t really any requirements or “prerequisites” for new people coming in.

Block argued that those positions generally are full-time positions and that justifies the raise for them. His concern had to do with whether the commissioner raise was justified or not.

There were several motions that attempted to set a percentage for commissioners but were not able to get a second on them.

Then, Jones suggested Heil’s 15% raise, but only for commissioners. Not only did that get a second from Heil but a third from Katherine Bruch.

Meek was the lone no vote on the motion.

For the fiscal year of 2024, the treasurer made $75,326.99, assessor $86,625.97, clerk $75,326.99, sheriff $90,337.94, and probate judge made $38,113.92. For commissioners, Block and Heil made $34,005. Bruch, Meek and Jones made $39,106.

The new pay for the elected officials are assessor to $103,951.16, clerk to $103,951.16, treasurer to $103,951.16, sheriff to $108,405.53, and probate judge to $45,736.70. Commissioners settled on the $44,971.90 rate.