Polk assessor says he won't endorse salary study recommendations

Catch up quick: The Polk County Conference Board — a group of mayors, supervisors and school board members who oversee the office — requested the study last year.

• It was completed last month, comparing the salaries of the office's nearly 40 workers with those of assessor staff in other Iowa counties.

State of play: The study concluded that Polk's assessor staff salaries are already aligned with, or close to the top of, the competitive labor market, which Ripperger said is key to attracting and retaining staff.

• It recommends taking additional steps to maintain competitive salary ranges, which Ripperger estimates could cost more than $325,000 over the next five years.

Friction point: Des Moines Public Schools Board Chair Kimberly Martorano tells Axios that the recommendation could create a salary structure she believes might exceed the annual raises given to other county employees and place additional financial pressures on the office.

Context: The assessor's office staff generally receives the same wage and job benefits of other county employees even though it's governed differently from most other departments.

• The office was not included in a broader county compensation study completed about two years ago.

Zoom in: The conference board requested a review after last year approving a 5% cost-of-living increase and raising Ripperger's annual salary to nearly $206,000.

What they're saying: The study served its purpose in helping evaluate salaries, Ripperger said.

• But implementing its recommendations could add another layer of costs at a time when local government budgets are tightening, Matt McCoy, a Polk County supervisor and chairman of the conference board, tells Axios.

What's next: Today's meeting begins at 4pm in room #120 of the Polk County Administration building.

111 Court Ave., DSM, or online.