MOORHEAD, MINN. – Clay County Commissioners will be asked to consider whether or not to raise salaries of key officials at its meeting today in Moorhead.
Among the raise requests came one from Clay County Sheriff Mark Empting.
The sheriff’s 2025 salary is $161,432. The Clay County Commission had already budgeted for a four percent increase in 2026.
He’s asking for an increase of 14 percent, which, if approved, would bring his total salary to just over $184,032.
In requesting the adjustment, Empting said the current level ‘no longer aligns with the increasing complexity of departmental operations, expanded service demands, and compensation trends in comparable jurisdictions.’
The commission will also be asked to consider similar requests from Clay County Attorney Brian Melton and a pair of Chief Assistant attorneys.
