Thurston County, Washington

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Thurston County Washington

Thurston Commissioners Move to Forgo Pay Increase for Second Year in a Row 

May 12, 2026
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CONTACT: Susan Melnyk, Chief Communications Manager, (360) 867-2097 or susan.melnyk@co.thurston.wa.us
 

Thurston Commissioners Move to Forgo Pay Increase for Second Year in a Row 
Board requests salary freeze ahead of Salary Commission’s first meeting of 2026 on May 18.  

OLYMPIA – Thurston County’s Board of County Commissioners voted unanimously today to opt out of potential pay increases in 2027. 

The Board will formally request the Thurston County’s Citizens' Commission on Salaries for Elected Officials (Salary Commission) maintain their salaries at 2025 levels. The request will ask the Salary Commission to forgo any scheduled raises for the five commissioners and for seven other elected County officials. If approved all twelve elected officials will maintain their current compensation levels through 2027. This marks the second year in a row the Commissioners have made such a request. 

The Salary Commission is an independent, volunteer citizen advisory group responsible for setting salaries for the County’s elected Assessor, Auditor, Clerk, Coroner, Prosecuting Attorney, Sheriff and Treasurer as well as the Board of County Commissioners. While the Salary Commission has the responsibility to increase pay annually, they honored a similar request for pay freeze by the Board in October of 2025.

This request comes as the County manages a structural budget shortfall projected to continue into the coming years. Officials are working to bridge the gap between rising service costs and tax revenues that haven't kept pace. Additionally, the County continues to navigate “unfunded mandates” - legal requirements for the justice system, electoral administration and public health that the County must fulfill even when state and federal funding is insufficient.

 “Fiscal leadership starts at the top, and right now our priority is providing essential services to the people of our County,” said Chair of the Board of County Commissioners Tye Menser. “We believe it is the responsible choice to pause salary adjustments to help ensure every available dollar supports vital County services and the dedicated staff who deliver them.”

The Salary Commission is scheduled to meet for the first time this year on Monday, May 18, and could begin discussing 2027 salary levels at that time. In preparation for the meeting, the Board of County Commissioners is formally requesting a salary freeze for 2027, consistent with their request in 2025 for this year. 

For more information on the Salary Commission visit the County’s website at www.thurstoncountywa.gov/living-thurston-county/civic-engagement/citizens-commission-salaries-elected-officials. 

For more about the County’s budget-balancing efforts and to see a draft of their 2026 letter to the Salary Commission visit https://www.thurstoncountywa.gov/balancing-budget

 

Board of County Commissioners