VALENTINE, Neb. - Most Cherry County employees will see a three percent cost-of-living adjustment following a decision by the Board of Commissioners at Tuesday’s meeting. However, five positions were excluded from the increase due to recent substantial raises tied to a now possibly invalidated federal mandate.

The excluded positions received significant pay increases earlier this year in response to a Department of Labor mandate under revised Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) regulations. The rules, originally set to take effect on Jan. 1, 2025, required employees to earn at least $58,656 annually or be reclassified as hourly non-exempt.

In November, a U.S. District Court struck down the mandate, ruling the revised regulations were not legally permissible.

“They got substantial raises already, and I think it would be unfair to give them another three percent,” said Commissioner Mike McConaughey.

The pay increase is effective starting with the January payroll.