Dubuque County Considers Freezing Salaries Instead of Raises

The Dubuque County Board of Supervisors discussed freezing scheduled raises for administrative positions on Monday. In February, supervisors approved a 3% raise for sheriff, a 1.5% raise for other elected officials and a 0.75% raise for themselves for fiscal year 2021, beginning July 1. This came after the Dubuque County Compensation Board recommended higher raises for all positions, which the supervisors deemed too high for the second consecutive year. But, the following month, the nation was hit by the COVID-19 pandemic wave. Supervisor Jay Wickham pointed out changes to society and the economy caused by the pandemic, including significant unemployment, as reasons to reconsider. Wickham therefore proposed a freeze of elected officials’ and non-bargaining county employees’ salaries at fiscal year 2020 levels, with some exceptions. That met with swift backlash from some of those whom the change would impact.