VALENTINE, Neb. - In response to a new federal mandate, several Cherry County positions are receiving pay raises, resulting in higher salaries than most elected officials. The Department of Labor’s revised regulations under the Fair Labor Standards Act now require that, starting Jan. 1, 2025, employees must either earn a minimum of $58,656 per year or be classified as hourly non-exempt. However, the rule doesn’t apply to elected officials.

Cherry County commissioners have decided to grant pay raises to five positions rather than reclassify them as hourly non-exempt employees. Among those receiving raises are three road foremen, who will now out-earn the Cherry County road supervisor, who announced his retirement at Tuesday’s commission meeting. The justice center administrator and emergency management director are also receiving raises.

As a result of these increases, these positions will now earn more than all county elected officials, with the exception of the county attorney.

During the public comment period at Tuesday’s meeting, a resident voiced concern over the pay raises, arguing that it wasn’t fair for a foreman to be paid more than the road supervisor.