NEBRASKA CITY - Otoe County commissioners are ratcheting down their salary increase.

The five commissioners in Otoe County had earlier set their 2027 salary at $41,500, but have since reduced the earnings to $34,500 to comply with a cap on wage increases set by state law.

Commissioner Chuck Cole said the Otoe County Board is trying to align with the wage comparison provided by the Nebraska Association of County Officials. He said the $34,500 salary is comparable, but said previous guidance by NACO indicated that other elected officials would not earn more than 50 percent of commissioners.

He said the county redacted its salary ordinance for the lower amount once commissioners learned the 50 percent guidance is no longer a valid limit on salaries of other elected officials.

For the five commissioners, Otoe County's administrative spending was set at $207,500, which is higher than the county administrator is paid in Sarpy County. In 2024, the Sarpy County administrator had a bachelor’s degree in political science and a juris doctorate from the Creighton University School of Law.

An elected Sarpy County commissioner is earning $38,500 for a population of about 190,000. 

Cole said he hopes higher salaries in Otoe County will retain and attract the most skilled people.

He said Otoe County attempted to use a 2 percent wage increase through the pandemic, while other counties kept up with the actual cost of living. He said Otoe County has fallen behind its peers regarding wages.

Minutes of the Jan. 14 meeting say the Otoe County salary was redacted to be $34,500 for 2027 and 2028 for a yearly administrative total of $172,500.  The administrative cost for the five commissioners is $65,000 higher than the earnings of the professional administrator at Nebraska City and higher than the earnings of the city administrator at Papillion.

The city administrator in Papillion is required to have a masters degree in public administration or business administration. The administrator would also possess a credentialed manager designation from the International County Management Association.

Otoe county commissioners’ wages are set to increase in subsequent years based on the consumer price index plus 1 percent.