Title
Discussion and Possible Action on Next Steps Regarding Elected Officials' Salaries
Recommended Action
I move that Council direct the County Manager to finalize ordinances to revise the Councilor salary to: ___________.
I move that Council direct the County Manager to finalize ordinances to revise the Probate Judge salary to: ___________.
I move that Council direct the County Manager to finalize ordinances to revise the Assessor salary to: ___________.
I move that Council direct the County Manager to finalize ordinances to revise the Municipal Judge salary to $118,838.
I move that Council take no action to revise the Sheriff salary.
I move that Council wait to consider changes to the County Clerk salary until ___________.
Board, Commission or Committee Recommendation
The Council Working Group's recommendation is contained in Attachment B.
Body
Background
The salaries for the Los Alamos County’s Elected Officials are stated in the Municipal Code. The Municipal Code also states which officials are considered full-time, which is currently only the County Clerk. Historically, the State of New Mexico set a cap for the elected officials’ salaries. In 2022, Los Alamos County adopted Ordinance Nos. 02-330 and 02-331 which set the elected officials’ salaries to the State cap as follows:
Councilors - $12,674
Council Chair - $12,674 + $3,170 = $15,844
Clerk - $73,733
Assessor - $7,922
Sheriff - $7,922
Probate Judge - $4,636
Municipal Judge - $104,604
On November 5, 2024, a Constitutional Amendment (No. 4), was on the ballot to amend the State Constitution to authorize the board of county commissioners to set salaries for county officers, essentially removing the State Cap for elected officials salaries. This ballot measure was approved by the voters.
On September 9, 2025, Council took the following action:
"A second subsequent motion was made by Councilor Ryti, seconded by Councilor Hermann, that Council request that the County Manager and County Attorney draft an ordinance for salary for the Municipal Court Judge based on the ninety percent (90%) of the Magistrate Court Judge salary and that the ordinance further reflect increases to the Magistrate Court Judge Salary as budget allows in future terms."
In addition to formal action, Council also asked that salaries for the elected officials for Chaves, Lincoln, McKinley, Otero, Rio Arriba, and Taos County be provided as a salary study for the follow-up discussion. These counties were selected for comparison since they were grouped with Los Alamos County in regard to member participation fees paid to New Mexico Counties Incorporated, a non-partisan organization that serves as a voice for all 33 of New Mexico counties. The results of this compensation study is shown in Attachment A.
The Los Alamos County process for setting new elected officials’ salaries is done by ordinance. The County Attorney is developing draft ordinances to accomplish the changes once Council has decided on the new salaries. These draft ordinances also include a provision that the salaries shall be reviewed at a minimum of every four years.
Another issue that Council should consider is if the additional compensation for Council Chair will be maintained. Currently, the Councilor that is elected as Chair receives an additional compensation of $3,170/year.
Finally, if Council desires to increase elected officials’ compensation, these increases will take effect upon the next term of office for the elected position. Increases in elected officials’ compensation during the elected official’s term of office are expressly prohibited by N.M. Const. Art. IV, § 27. The current term end dates for the elected officials as shown below.
Councilors: Four (4) terms end 12/31/26; three (3) terms end 12/31/28
Clerk: current term ends 12/31/28
Assessor: current term ends 12/31/26
Probate Judge: current term ends 12/31/26
Municipal Judge: current term ends 12/31/26
It was noted by current County Clerk, Michael Redondo that it may be better to consider the Clerk’s salary closer to the current term end date (stated above). It is also noted that some other County Commissions have delegated fact gathering and recommendations for changing elected official salaries to an independent citizen body.
Another discussion about revising the salaries was held at the October 21, 2025 Council Work Session. At that session, Chair Theresa Cull indicated that she wanted to create a Council Working Group to gather additional information and provide salary recommendations. Chair Cull assigned herself, Councilor Randall Ryti, and Councilor Beverly Neal-Clinton to this working group. The Council Working Group met once, with the exception of Councilor Neal-Clinton, who was unable to attend. The Council Working Group reviewed the compensation study (Attachment A) and made salary recommendations, which are included in Attachment B. The Working Group also recommended waiting to evaluate the County Clerks' salary until closer to the end of the current term. The Working Group recommended that there not be a different, increased salary for the Councilor that is elected Chair.
Fiscal and Staff Impact/Unplanned Item
This fiscal impact will need to be analyzed for any change to the elected officials' salaries with the timing of the effective date of the revised salary.
Attachments
A - Compensation Study
B - Council Working Group Recommendations