As the Deschutes County Board of Commissioners prepares to add two new members in 2026, a committee tasked with reviewing the salaries of elected officials suggested slashing each commissioner’s pay by $50,000. That would keep costs on par with what spending would have been if the ballot measure expanding the commission had not passed in November.

The committee’s recommendation is to split the total cost of the Deschutes County Commission five ways, instead of three, resulting in a lower salary for each commissioner.

Commissioners will have the final say on their own salaries when they pass the entire county budget in May. Changes would go into effect July 1 and remain at least until the following year’s budget is passed.

The discussions of salaries come as county managers are preparing recommendations to cut back on spending by $3 million to avoid a looming budget deficit projected for 2027. In December, the county’s spending trajectory led commissioners to approve cuts to staff hours in the independent office responsible for reviewing performance and spending.

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In November, voters passed a citizen-led ballot measure expanding the Deschutes County Commission from three to five members. Republicans flagged increased costs of new commissioners in a campaign opposing the measure.

“When we look at the budget next year, if it’s better, we can revisit getting them (the salaries) back up,” said Judy Trego, a committee member and 2024 candidate for Deschutes County commissioner. “I just would like to spread this over five. I don’t want to add that $300,000 to the budget right now until we can figure out what the duties and roles are.”

The two new commissioners would not be elected until 2026, which means the lower salaries would apply for a full year among the three-member board before two more commissioners take office. But compensation committee members said the salaries of the five-member board should be determined this year so people know what the pay for the position is before deciding to run or not.

Deschutes County Commissioners make a base salary of $135,364. According to data compiled by a human resources consultant, that’s between $5,000 and $20,000 more than county commissioners in Clackamas, Lane and Marion counties — all of which are more populous than Deschutes.

Still, the commissioners’ salary is below what the county considers its target salary for employees: 5% above the statewide market average. Staff recommended raising salaries to about $142,900 to meet that goal.

All other elected officials except the district attorney make at or above the county’s pay goals. The compensation committee did recommend a $24,000 raise for District Attorney Steve Gunnels.

In 2023, Deschutes County Commissioners voted 2-1 to raise their own salaries by $14,000 at the recommendation of the compensation committee.

Jim Fister, a compensation committee member, said the county is competing with executive positions at private companies that usually offer better pay than elected officials.

“What we’re trying to do is we’re trying to attract the best talent to be able to run for this position because we think this is a pretty meaningful position,” said Fister, who voted against recommending the salary slash. “If we’re lowering it, or even holding it steady, we’re very likely disincentivizing people from potentially running.”

Committee member Krissana Clark-Endicott said she views compensation for elected officials differently than the private sector.

“This is not a position that is or should be career oriented,” Clark-Endicott said. “People who want to serve, they should be compensated for their time, but they should not consider it something as a career.”

Commissioner Phil Chang voted against the 2023 raise, and then declined to accept the full pay bump himself. He said Monday he is not necessarily opposed to a significant pay decrease, even one greater than the one suggested by the committee, but it would need to be associated with moving some commissioners to part-time positions.

The board of commissioners has not yet decided about whether the new five-member board will be part-time or full-time — or some mix of both — and if the members will represent districts, or certain areas of the county.

Commissioner Patti Adair said Tuesday she hadn’t made up her mind about the recommended salary cut or potential shifts in structure of the county commission.

“I want to talk to a couple of people before I really form where I’m at on this,” Adair said. “I don’t have an opinion at this moment.”