MARSHALL — Lyon County commissioner salaries will be increasing in 2023.

On Tuesday, county board members approved a 3% increase to the base commissioner salary, which would be the same rate at which non-union county employees pay ranges was set to increase in 2023.

The 3% increase would bring commissioners’ annual pay to $21,750, said Lyon County Administrator Loren Stomberg.

At Tuesday’s county board meeting, commissioners also acted to set salaries for the Lyon County sheriff and the Lyon County attorney.

The board needed to consider a resolution to set commissioner salaries and per diem payment amounts for next year, Stomberg said Tuesday. Commissioners currently receive $21,120 per year, with the county board chairman receiving an additional $250 per month. Per diem rates, which are paid to commissioners when they attend a variety of committee and board meetings, were $75 for a half day and $140 for a full day.

Stomberg presented commissioners with information on how salaries could change with a 3% increase.

“That would move it from $21,120 to $21,750,” Stomberg said.

The 3% increase would be in line with increased pay ranges for non-union county employees in 2023, he said.

Lyon County commissioner pay was lower than other counties in the region, said Commissioner Gary Crowley.

“We’re still not average within our district,” Crowley said. “But I think to continue on, we have to keep up somewhat and go with the 3% like the employees are getting. Otherwise, we just keep falling farther and farther behind.”

Commissioner Rick Anderson said one option that some counties have taken is to increase the base pay for county commissioners and not do per diems. However, Commissioner Charlie Sanow said he had also heard feedback from other counties that did the same thing, and then had trouble getting commissioners to attend all their meetings.

After discussion, commissioners opted to leave per diem payments as they were and approve a 3% salary increase.

“I think if it is just an incremental thing, it seems more fair,” than a big jump in salary, said Commissioner Paul Graupmann.

Setting sheriff, attorney salaries

Later at Tuesday’s meeting, commissioners went into closed session to conduct a performance review of Sheriff Eric Wallen, and to set Abby Wikelius’ salary as county attorney. Commissioners normally hold an annual performance review for both the sheriff and county attorney before setting salaries. This year, with Wikelius set to become the new Lyon County attorney, her salary needed to be determined, Stomberg said.

When the board reconvened in open session, they set the sheriff’s salary and $123,000 and the county attorney’s salary at $120,000, Stomberg said.