The Senate Committee on Local Government on Monday reported Senate Bill 762, a measure requested by the Pennsylvania County Board of Supervisors that would allow counties to adjust board salaries based on local population brackets similar to a change enacted for cities in 2024.

Supervisor Ken Bowman, chair of Pennsylvania County’s legislative committee, told the panel the county’s 2020 population (60,501) places it in a bracket that currently sets a maximum board member salary at $9,000; the proposed changes would permit a local governing body to authorize higher maximum salaries — Bowman cited a potential maximum of $34,000 in the discussion as an upper statutory bracket under the proposal.

Bowman and the bill’s patron said the change is intended to offset inflation, cover costs incurred by serving officials (internet, travel, supplies), and help recruit younger and more diverse candidates who may otherwise be unable to serve while holding paid employment. Bowman emphasized the change would not create state expenditures; any pay increases would come from local budgets.

Committee members pressed on scope and precedent. One senator noted that a city version adopted in 2024 set lower increases and included an inflation tie; another member said some localities moved quickly to set higher salaries last year, which produced local backlash. The sponsor said the bill’s intent is to allow local governing bodies discretion and establish a statutory maximum rather than require a specific increase.

On procedure, a motion to pass the bill by indefinitely failed on a recorded vote (Ayes 3, Noes 9, 1 abstention). The committee then voted to report the bill to the floor (Ayes 8, Noes 3, 1 abstention). The bill will next be considered on the Senate floor.

Proponents said the change would modernize compensation options for local officials; critics cautioned that statutory authorization could be used to set large increases without sufficient local public engagement.