Wood County commissioners recently approved the new 2023-24 budget which goes into effect Oct. 1, including the salary schedules and the departmental and classification schedules.

County employees were given an across-the-board pay increase of six percent.

The highest paid elected officials are the district judge and the district attorney, although they are paid only a supplement by the county.

The state sets their base pay at $140,000 annually.

The district judge receives a supplement from the county for $10,043 and also receives $4,800 for serving on the juvenile probation board.

The DA receives a $17,058 county supplement.

The county judge receives the same base salary as most elected officials of $79,573 but has a total compensation package of $113,665. That includes a state supplement of $25,200, a phone allowance of $1,080, a car allowance of $3,011 and the same $4,800 as the district judge for the juvenile probation board.

Unlike other county officials, whose salaries are set by the commissioners, the county auditor’s office salaries are set by the district judge, as well as for the district court reporter.

The county auditor receives $108,910 plus a $600 phone allowance. The first assistant receives $60,489 plus a $4,510 education stipend and $600 phone allowance.

Assistant auditors receive $53,548.

The court reporter receives $89,408.

The following elected officials receive $79,573: county clerk, district clerk, county treasurer, county tax assessor-collector, county sheriff and the four county commissioners.

Positions receiving $53,097 include court administrator-county judge, chief deputy-county clerk, district court administrator, chief deputy-district clerk, district attorney-administrative assistant and two chief deputies-tax assessor.

Serving in various offices, the deputy III position earns $49,402 and the deputy II position earns $46,332.

The pay scale for the justices of the peace is $70,344 for the elected officials, $49,402 for the chief clerk and $46,332 for the clerk II position.

Constables are paid $57,774 with a $750 uniform allowance. Prec. 1 also has a $480 phone allowance.

Appointed official positions include veterans service officer (part-time) $21,173, economic development director $62,055, elections administrator $67,660, information technology director $80,951, human resources $55,854, emergency management $66,106 and indigent health care $55,979.

In the road-and-bridge precincts, all but Prec. 2 have a foreman position paying $56,939, road techs are paid $51,218 and the commissioners office coordinator receives $56,939.

In the sheriff’s office, the chief deputy pay is $66,962, captain $65,111, lieutenants $62,821, CID and patrol sergeants, courthouse security supervisor and environmental officer $61,176, patrol and courthouse deputies $60,621, dispatch supervisor $51,218 and dispatchers  $49,402.

On the jail side, the jail captain is paid $64,226, lieutenant $56,530, sergeants and cook $54,530 and jailers $52,596.

Salaries in the DA’s office include first assistant $89,867, assistant DAs $83,394 and investigator $65,980.

The state has a new grant program for rural DA offices which would award the county $175,000 which can be used for salary supplements or additional staff.

There is also a sheriff’s grant available which would go for equipment, since the county’s salaries meet the minimum requirements.

The remaining IT positions are paid $74,750 and $51,218.

The county pays a portion of the county agent salaries, with the rest paid by the state. That supplement is $23,093 each.

The county also has a longevity pay program, which is $90 per year of service calculated each Dec. 1.