Clay County Commission meeting on Dec. 16, 2025.
MOORHEAD (KFGO/KVRR) — Clay County Commissioners have given preliminary approval to a pay raise for Clay County Sheriff Mark Empting.
Clay County Attorney Brian Melton and chief assistant county attorneys would also get raises.
Mark Empting, Clay County Sheriff
Empting told the commission that the responsibilities of his position have grown substantially over the past few years, but the compensation hasn’t changed.
The sheriff says he’s in charge of hiring, budgets and working extra hours during summer community events. He says the salary adjustment is already built into the department’s budget.
He was seeking a 10% increase along with a 4% cost-of-living adjustment for a total of a 14% increase in pay.
His current pay is $161,432 annually. The raise will bring his pay to $184,000 annually.
Clay County Attorney Brian Melton is requesting a 13% increase, which comes out to an increase of just over $19,000.
Brian Melton, Clay County Attorney
Melton’s 2025 salary is $182,910. If the 13% increase is approved, his 2026 salary would be $206,688.
When it comes to his staff, Melton says the Assistant County Attorneys recently negotiated a 9% raise, along with a 4% cost-of-living adjustment based on the market analysis and adjustment needed for appropriate compensation for attorneys across the state, and specifically within Clay County.
The market considerations include the professional responsibilities of the office, the volume and complexity of criminal and civil legal matters, and market comparisons with counties of similar size.
The board still has to vote on a final resolution to approve the amounts next week.
Empting was first elected sheriff in November 2018 are re-elected in 2022.
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