The Utah County Commission approved a 2.5% pay raise for county employees and a 2% pay raise for elected county officials at its Wednesday meeting in Provo.

Both motions were approved in a 2-1 vote, with Commission Chair Brandon Gordon and Commissioner Amelia Powers Gardner voting yes on each and Commissioner Skyler Beltran dissenting.

Salaries for commissioners will go up from $166,960 to $170,300 annually, while County Attorney Jeff Gray will see a pay bump from $208,700 to $212,874 and County Sheriff Mike Smith’s salary will go from $177,395 to $180,943.

The six other elected officials’ pay will go from $156,525 to $159,656.

All three commissioners said they would donate their own raises.

“I plan on voting for it again today but I will donate (my raise) back to one of our sister organizations,” Gordon said. “I see myself much different than Sheriff (Mike) Smith, who has made a career being a post-certified law enforcer, so I know he’s making this a career. I don’t want to be a career politician. I’m here for service.”

The 2% increase for elected officials was recommended by Utah County Human Recourses Director Ralf Barnes, who said the number was based upon the average wage increase of the state’s four largest counties in 2024. He added that the disparity was up to 6% after other counties raised pay in 2025.

“We do not lead the pack in pay — we tend to bring up the rear,” Powers Gardner said in a statement to the Daily Herald. “This often discourages highly qualified candidates from running for office. These positions are not just titles; they are department heads responsible for running large organizations that directly impact the efficiency and fiscal health of our county. Retaining the best people in these roles ultimately saves taxpayers money through better decision-making and stronger management.”

Beltran contended it was the third consecutive year elected official salaries had been raised, and he didn’t want a “race to the top” against other counties.

“I don’t care that other counties have raised their elected officials’ salaries,” he said. “All of us — we run on the salary we’re at or less. So I do not think that an increase is warranted.”

The 2.5% wage increase for all employees was also recommended by Barnes. He said the raise was based upon the rising cost of labor and that it was half of the 5% of funds the county has set aside for wages.

Barnes argued the raise was necessary, citing the county’s increase in turnover and its challenges getting qualified applicants.

Powers Gardner agreed, saying the county has worked to reduce the staff attrition rate from 16% to 11% since she took office, but the county can’t afford to fall behind.

“We’re retaining our good talent and sheriff. You can attest to this — it took us five years working together to get it to the point that you could even recruit officers and fill positions,” she said. “And I think if we fall behind it once again, it’ll start costing us millions of dollars a year, and we’ll lose good talent in the process.”

Beltran commended Powers Gardner and Gordon for lowering the wage disparity during their time in office, citing a 34.6% average wage increase for county workers in the last four years, but questioned the feasibility of extending another raise.

He cited increased taxes imposed on residents last year and private sector layoffs and suggested the county take more of a targeted and grade-level approach to raising wages.

“After careful consideration, I believe it is necessary to take a year off from the cost of labor increases, not because our employees are unworthy but due to our current financial situation and the overall national economic conditions,” Beltran said in a statement. “The price tag of $2.5 million, along with soft sales tax revenues, rising health insurance and benefit costs, I believe, is too much at this time.”