Hennepin County Commissioners are set to vote Aug. 6 on a large raise increase for themselves. Commissioner Irene Fernando (District 2 - Golden Valley, Medicine Lake, North and Northeast Minneapolis, Southeast Plymouth and St. Anthony) came up with a nearly 50% raise, from from $122,225 to $182,141.
“Salaries are a reflection of and connected to the scope of responsibilities that accompanies a particular job,” Fernando said.
In 2024, the area medium income for Hennepin County is about $143,342 for a family of four, according to U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development as cited by the Metropolitan Council. ( metrocouncil.org/Housing/Planning/Affordable-Housing-Measures/Ownership-and-Rent-Affordability-Limits.aspx ).
The vote is expected to pass 4-3.
Discussion on salary increase
Hennepin County has seven elected officials on the board of county commissioners. During a July 30 committee meeting, the board discussed the budget.
Fernando believes a large salary increase is justified given the size of the county and its budget.
Commissioners Debbie Goettel (District 5 - Bloomington, Part of Chanhassen, Part of southwest Minneapolis, South Eden Prairie and Richfield), Marion Greene (District 3 - St. Louis Park, Parts of southwest and downtown Minneapolis) and Angela Conley (District 4 - parts of east and downtown Minneapolis and Fort Snelling) agreed. Goettel said the commissioners have looked after its employees it’s time to look at themselves.
“If we want to set a legacy for the people who will come after us, so that we get good governance, we need to at least get a good equitable pay for the people sitting up here on the bench," Goettel said.
Greene said she trusted Fernando’s numbers since Fernando has a background in human resources and brought many numbers to the table. Conley emphasized the fact that there had been times when the commissioners did not get any raises. Countywide elected salaries stagnated from 2010 to 2012, and from 2021 to 2024.
However not everyone agreed with the new lump of money.
Commissioners Kevin Anderson (Distirct 7 - Champlin, Corcoran, Dayton, Greenfield, Hanover, Independence, Loretto, Maple Grove, Maple Plain, Medina, Minnetrista, Southern Mound, Rogers, St. Bonifacius, Northwest Plymouth and Rockford) and Heather Edelson (District 6 - part of Chanhassen, Deephaven, North Eden Prairie, Edina, Excelsior, Greenwood, Hopkins, Long Lake, Minnetonka, Minnetonka Beach, Northern Mound, Orono, Shorewood, Spring Park, Tonka Bay, Wayzata and Woodland) voted against the measure.
“I feel like I am honestly fairly compensated for the work that I do,” Anderson said. He added that a smaller increase to keep up with the cost of living would be more appropriate.
“I don’t know anybody that gets a 50% increase,” Edelson said.
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 proposed nearly-50% increase is unprecedented,” the joint statement continues. “While we understand the intentions behind this proposal, we believe that such a significant increase does not reflect the experience of Hennepin County residents.”
The entire meeting can be watched at bit.ly/4dnBn9B . The discussion on salary increases begins about 20 minutes into the video.
Jeffrey Lunde (District 1- Brooklyn Center, Brooklyn Park, Crystal, New Hope, Osseo, and Robbinsdale), was not at the committee meeting. He said he does not support the raise.
“I was absent from the first meeting due to an important medical appointment for a family member, but I will at the next meeting to vote no,” 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.”
"I took a pay cut to take this role as a commissioner," he continued. "I am definitely feeling that cut due to the same inflationary pressures all of us feel plus I am due to soon to have both my sons in college, where it seems inflation is on steroids. I cannot support such an increase while knowing the people I represent are also facing the same financial challenges. Like them, I am making decisions including looking for a part time job to support my family and my son’s college goals. If misery loves company, I like my company."
Lunde added that he would like to discuss a more modest salary increase.
Sheriff and attorney
Fernando also proposed the salary for Hennepin County Sheriff Dawanna Witt and for Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty to be adjusted to $218,272. Currently the sheriff is paid $185,775 and the attorney gets $195,065. In 2026, they could see a 3% raise.
Per county documents, the Hennepin County Sheriff is the second-lowest paid sheriff in the metro and the Hennepin County Attorney is the lowest paid county attorney in the metro, despite serving the largest population.
The administration, operations and budget committee voted 6-0 to approve the sheriff and attorney’s raises. A public hearing was scheduled for after this issue went to press.
In November, seats for Districts 1, 5, 6 and 7 will be up for reelection.
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