The Crook County Board of Commissioners approved a 2.4% cost-of-living adjustment for county employees for fiscal year 2026, following a staff recommendation tied to the June Consumer Price Index.

Will Van Vactor, Crook County manager, told the board that June CPI came in at 2.4%, below the 3% allowance the board had budgeted. "I have recommended that we... approve a 2.4% COLA increase for fiscal year 26 because it came in slightly lower than what we had forecasted in the budget," Van Vactor said, adding the lower increase would save about $94,000 in the coming fiscal year.

Van Vactor reviewed recent COLA history, noting the board linked past increases to CPI beginning in 2023. Commissioners discussed the balance between responding to inflation and fiscal prudence. One commissioner said the CPI-linked approach is a fair and transparent baseline for determining the COLA.

A motion to approve the 2.4% COLA was made and seconded and carried at the meeting.

No changes to step increases or other pay policies were discussed; the board's action applies to the FY2026 COLA only.