Hennepin board will not get their 50% pay increase

Hennepin County Commissioners were considering giving themselves a raise of nearly 50%, but they've decided to send the idea back to the drawing board.

During a July 30 meeting, Commissioner Irene Fernando suggested the commissioners get a raise from $122,225 to $182,141.

“Salaries are a reflection of and connected to the scope of responsibilities that accompanies a particular job,” Fernando had said.

Commissioners Debbie Goettel, Marion Greene and Angela Conley agreed.

Commissioners Kevin Anderson and Heather Edelson did not agree.

Anderson and Edelson also shared a collaborative post on social media saying that Fernando’s salary hike falsely equated the work of the elected officials with the work of the county administrators. The statement called the increase "unprecedented."

Commissioner Jeffrey Lunde - who was not at the committee meeting in July - also took issue with the 50% increase.

Lunde wrote in a note to Sun Newspapers. “I am very aware of the financial challenges being faced by members of my communities who are struggling to cover the increased cost of living, and [don't] have the option to simply vote themselves a raise.”

During the Aug. 6 meeting, commissioners voted unanimously to send their wage increase back to the committee.

Conley released a statement saying, "I am sorry I disappointed you."

"I realize now my support of a pay increase goes against many of your values as constituents," she added.

Conley said she originally supported the increase since it seemed "thoroughly vetted and researched" but now hopes for a "palatable" compromise.

In November, seats for Districts 1 (Lunde), 5 (Goettel), 6 (Edelson) and 7 (Anderson) will be up for reelection.