Jefferson County Executive Dennis Gannon will receive a 38.1 percent salary increase and Sheriff Dave Marshak a 59.2 percent increase at the start of the new year.
The sheriff, whose current salary is $98,134, will be paid $156,214 during the county’s 2024 budget year, which starts on Jan. 1.
That $156,214 annual salary is the same pay an associate circuit judge earns. The county executive’s pay will be set at 80 percent of associate circuit judges, meaning that Gannon’s annual salary will be raised from $90,477 to $124,971.
The Jefferson County Council voted 6-0 on Oct. 23 to include the pay hikes for the sheriff and county executive in the coming year’s budget, tying the salaries to the rate paid to associate circuit judges, which is regulated by the Missouri General Assembly.
Councilman Gene Barbagallo (District 2, Imperial) was absent from the meeting.
The county charter gives the County Council the authority to set the salary levels for all county elected officials.
The ordinance allowing the raises caps them at no more than 10 percent higher than the highest-salaried counterpart in first-class. non-charter counties, and gives the County Council the authority to review any subsequent increases as part of its annual budget review.
Gannon said other than the cost-of-living adjustments given to all county employees, the salaries for county elected officials have not been raised since the charter was fully instituted in 2010.
“Going forward, I would hope that we’d look at all positions in the county, the merit system workers as well as the elected officials, and see if there are places where we need to make adjustments,” he said. “But when it comes to elected officials, I don’t believe all positions are equal. Some elected officials oversee an office of 25 or more employees; others may have three.”
Marshak said the conversation about raising his position’s pay has been ongoing for at least a couple of years.
“Missouri sheriffs (in first-class, non-charter counties) got a pay raise two years ago when the General Assembly set their pay at 80 percent of an associate circuit judge. Because Jefferson County is a charter county, that did not apply to us. That started this conversation.”
In a written statement, Marshak said his salary is lowest among top law enforcement officials in six nearby counties in the St. Louis region, ranging from $275,000 for the chief of the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department to $124,971 for the Franklin County sheriff.
He also said his pay lags behind those for the police chiefs in Arnold, Pevely, Festus and Eureka, which are all in the six figures.
Likewise, Marshak said Gannon’s pay falls far behind that of his counterparts in St. Louis County ($140,000) and St. Charles ($183,594), as well as the St. Louis mayor’s pay ($131,820).
David Courtway, the county’s director of administration, said those two salaries stuck out as lagging behind their counterparts.
“Those two salaries had the biggest disparity when compared with others,” he said, adding that the salaries of other elected officials will be examined this year.
Marshak said he appreciated the council’s vote.
“I’m obviously pleased with the council voting to address the pay disparity. I might be the short-term beneficiary, but this is not just about me personally, but about the position and the future of our county.”
Marshak referred to a recent change in state law that will affect sheriffs who take office in 2024 and beyond.
Under the change, sheriffs will only be eligible to participate in the Missouri Sheriff Retirement System, which requires eight years, or two four-year terms, to become vested.
“If a Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office commander wanted to run for sheriff, he or she would lose eight years of participating in the CERF (Missouri County Employees Retirement Fund) or LAGERS (Local Government Employees Retirement System),” Marshak said. “Convincing commanders to drop out of their two other retirement systems and gamble with eight years of assets is a huge risk. Leaders would be less likely to take on the role knowing they will take a loss.”
Marshak said the current pay for the county sheriff’s position also would be a major disincentive for any of his command staff to run for office when he decides not to seek re-election.
“My entire command staff makes more than I do,” he said. “Quite a few people in the Sheriff’s Office make more than I do. In fact, there are also a number of lower-level deputies, who, when they work overtime, take home more. As a salaried officeholder, of course, I am not eligible for overtime.”
Marshak said he understood that some residents won’t be happy with the increases.
“Any time elected officials receive a pay raise, some will cry foul, but business and community leaders, along with our council, understood it,” he said.
At the last two council meetings, several people spoke in favor of the raises.
Scott Dix of Festus said he has been a real estate agent in the county for 24 years.
“Over the last eight years or so, there’s been a huge influx of people coming to Jefferson County because they feel safer here,” he said.
Todd Schutte, the owner of Twin City Toyota in Herculaneum, also talked about safety.
“My family feels safe here because of the leadership of Dennis and Dave Marshak,” he said. “We want to keep Jefferson County a safe place.”
Lori Arons of Imperial also spoke in favor of the raises.
“When I became aware that our sheriff is the lowest-paid in the area, I was appalled,” she said. “If this doesn’t pass, they’ll go find a job that pays more. They do this because they want to, but we don’t want them to go to another place.”
Mark Paul of Imperial agreed.
“In most cases,” he said, speaking of Marshak, “the CEO is not the third-, fourth- or fifth-lowest paid employee in a company. Jefferson County is a bigger county (than most in the state). I also think the county executive can make a case to get a raise, too. It’s a tough job.”
John Giancola of Cedar Hill also lauded the leadership both Gannon and Marshak provide.
“The County Council and the County Executive are doing an excellent job, and much of that has to do with Mr. Gannon,” he said. “He puts in a lot of work for this county.”
Giancola also praised the Sheriff’s Office.
“Considering the resources they have and the size and scope of the county, I’m surprised they get done half of what they do,” he said.
Gannon said he was appreciative of the council’s vote.
“I’m very thankful the County Council approved it regardless of who’s in this position,” he said. “Going forward, when I do retire, the number of people who might be encouraged to run should be more because the salary will be competitive.”