Pennington County Commissioners Give Themselves Big Pay Hike

RAPID CITY, S.D. (AP) — Pennington County commissioners have voted themselves a 20 percent pay raise.

The Rapid City Journal reports that commissioners will now make $1,500 a month, up from $1,250 last year. That adds up to $18,000 a year, a $3,000 annual raise.

As a comparison, Minnehaha County commissioners on Tuesday approved a 1.5 percent increase, giving them an annual salary of $26,390.

Pennington County Commissioner Ron Buskerud says the pay raise will attract younger people to city government.

Commission Chairman Lyndell Petersen says it also will keep the salary in Pennington County in balance with other counties.

Petersen also says he misheard the motion and thought he was voting for a much more modest pay increase.

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