Dona Ana County officials approve raises for elected officials

The Doña Ana County Board of Commissioners voted on Dec. 10 to increase the salaries of all county-elected officials and their deputies by as much as 30 percent. 

The raises go into effect in the next term. So, for some officials, that means a pay increase come January, while others will have to win another election before the raises take effect for them.

About 66 percent of New Mexico voters approved a constitutional amendment in the November election giving the commission authority to raise elected officials' salaries. Previously, only the legislature could raise salaries, a practice that dates back to New Mexico’s territorial days.

“What the legislature normally had done is just 15 percent increases every ten years or so,” County Treasurer Eric Rodriguez said. “And so elected officials just kind of compressed and compressed over the years.” 

Legislative records show the last increase occurred in 2019. 

Since the voters approved the amendment, several counties have jumped at the opportunity to raise wages, saying increased pay will make the jobs more enticing for well-qualified and talented people seeking work. 

Several elected officials spoke in favor of the raises they’ll receive. 

Commissioner Shannon Reynolds said it would also allow people from less wealthy backgrounds and people who are in the workforce to become elected officials. He also noted that, in some cases, elected officials manage staffers who make more than them. 

“I’m never going to benefit from this decision. I have two years left, I will not get a pay raise, and I cannot run for this office again,” Reynolds said. “So, I’m an unbiased party in this situation trying to identify the reason for this decision and why we’re trying to do this.”

Sheriff Kim Stewart and Deputy County Clerk Caroline Zamora also spoke in favor of the raises. Stewart pointed out that her office only legally requires office-holders to come in for eight hours per month. 

“Eight hours a month. That’s it. I could have another job. You know my predecessors did,” Stewart said. 

There were no public comments opposing the raises. Commissioner Susana Chaparro said she’d received calls from constituents questioning why the elected officials deserved the raises. 

“At least from the ones who called me, it’s not sitting well to have a 30 percent increase across the board,” Chaparro said. 

Stephen Lopez, the former interim county manager who heads the county’s Office of Emergency Management, presented the changes. He said the increase for elected officials was calculated by the cost of living in the area. Deputies will earn 95 percent of their bosses’ pay.

The new salaries, compared to the old, are:

• Sheriff – $90,338 to $117,439
• Treasurer - $86,626 to $112,613
• Assessor - $86,626 to $112,613
• Clerk - $86,626 to $112,613
• Probate Judge - $38,144 to $49,548
• Commissioner - $39,106 to $49,548

County Clerk Amanda López Askin, treasurer-elect Marisol Richardson, Commissioners Manuel Sanchez and Chaparro, and commissioner-elect Gloria Gameros will earn the new pay rates beginning in January. 

The commission also added a provision guaranteeing cost-of-living increases for elected officials equal to those for non-elected officials. 

Whoever holds the offices of probate judge, assessor, and sheriff in 2027 will receive increased wages. 

“Because of (the American Rescue Plan Act) and COVID, our budget was actually closer to $400 million,” Reynolds said before voting to approve the salary increases. “I don’t think we want people in this position who don’t understand a lot about economics, (and) about health, and welfare benefits to the community of over 200,000 people.”