The Hamilton County Compensation Board on Tuesday approved a 3% increase for the county assessor’s office.

The vote came after Brenda Loftus, Hamilton County’s assessor, explained why her office needs the requested $853,446 in the coming fiscal year.

That sum brings the tax levy up to 0.675 from the previous year’s $792,040 or 0.66738 levy.

Of that, Loftus is paid a $122,876 salary. Deputy Assessor Lindsey Burkhart makes $91,396. The 3% increase will bring Loftus up to $126,562 and Burkhart to $94,138.

The meeting was held in the basement conference room at the Hamilton County Courthouse, 2300 Superior Street, Webster City.

During discussion of the proposed line item budget at Tuesday’s meeting, Hamilton County Supervisor April Ely questioned why all the office’s five staff members are financially compensated for use of their personal cell phones.

“Are they all field appraisers?” Ely asked.

Loftus explained that they all use their phones either as a mode of communication or hotspot while out in the field and otherwise away from the office at the Hamilton County Courthouse.

Each of the employees is paid $480 a year for the use of their personal cell phones.

Ely said the supervisors are looking at cell phone compensation in the budgets of multiple county departments.

“Is this how you would be handling, like, the secondary roads?” Loftus asked.

“They have county-owned phones the second year, so it and no they don’t,” Ely said.

“Then the sheriff’s department,” Loftus said.

Ely responded, “Obviously, theirs are county-owned as well,” Ely said. “Theirs have to be different … for legal purposes.”

Stanhope Mayor Kelly Wirtz, who is a Compensation Board member, commented that the staff in the assessor’s office is well paid.

“I just think we are nibbling our budget to death with all of these things, I think we have a pretty good personnel package. I think the wages are very good and I think the benefits are very good. If you add on the cost of the benefits on each of the salaries. Employees get paid very well and they’re well taken care of,” Wirtz said. “I don’t think we need to pay for everything.”

Despite the discussion, the Compensation Board did not alter Loftus’ proposed budget.

A public hearing on the assessor’s budget will be held on Tuesday, March 25, in the basement conference room of the courthouse.

The hearing will take place at noon.