Board makes legislative-funded pay increases automatic for staff under its salary-setting authority

The board voted May 28 to adopt a policy that will apply any legislatively authorized and funded general wage increases automatically to all positions under the board's salary-setting authority.

Karen Durant, staff to the board, presented the salary-setting background and the consultant's recommendations. She told trustees the board adopted a salary structure after third-party market research and that the board had previously applied a 3.7% index (Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue CPI) to the ranges. "The ranges adopted by the board for the positions under their salary setting authority are listed in this chart," Durant said. She reminded trustees the board had already adopted a permanent salary change for the executive director earlier and that the adopted general wage increases in the 2025-27 budget are 3% effective July 1, 2025, and 2% effective July 1, 2026.

A motion to permanently adopt legislatively funded general wage increases for all positions under the board's salary-setting authority was made, seconded and carried. Staff said market analyses will continue on an even-year cadence, with the next full market analysis scheduled for 2026; ranges will continue to be adjusted annually by the adopted CPI unless the board directs otherwise.

The board noted that any increase above already funded general wage increases would still require a separate board adoption and a decision package for supplemental budget consideration.