Flathead County employees will see a bump in their paychecks next month after county commissioners approved a 2.15% wage increase last week for county elected officials. 

Commissioners on June 16 also approved an increased salary to $156,500 for the county attorney. Employees’ wages are tied to the salaries of elected officials, and payrolls will be adjusted for the 2027 fiscal year, which begins July 1. 

Both increases were recommended by the Flathead County Compensation Board in May.  

The wage adjustment for county employees falls below the 2.5% increase that county department heads asked for during the compensation board meeting. Elected officials pushed back on County Administrator Pete Melnick’s proposal of 2%, arguing it was hardly sufficient to keep up with the cost of living. It took three rounds of voting before the compensation board passed a recommendation of 2.15%.  

Melnick said the wage increase will cost the county approximately $999,639. Funding will come from multiple sources, he said, including grants, fees, the tax levy and available cash reserves. 

The sheriff’s new annual salary will be $123,727; the two justices of the peace will increase to $107,327; the clerk and recorder will increase to $90,941; and the county commissioners, clerk of district court, county treasurer and superintendent of schools will increase to $92,941. 

ON THURSDAY, county commissioners signed a new bargaining agreement, effective July 1, that establishes a higher pay rate for sheriff deputies.  

The bargaining agreement increases the sheriff’s salary by $4,000 in the 2027 fiscal year and $4,000 in the 2028 fiscal year.* This allows flexibility to increase wages for deputies since they are statutorily tied to the sheriff.  

From July 1 through June 30, 2027, the starting salary for a deputy will go up from $32.61 per hour to $34.02 per hour, according to a pay matrix in the signed bargaining agreement. On July 1, 2027, deputy starting salaries will go up again to $35.42 per hour. 

*This story was corrected to clarify the county sheriff's salary will increase by $4,000 in the 2028 fiscal year.

Report for America Reporter Hannah Shields can be reached at 406-758-4439 or [email protected]. If you value local journalism, pledge your support at dailyinterlake.com/support.