Board approves increases

MISSION – On Feb. 8, Interim Executive Director Chuck Sams announced a pair of increases tribal employees may receive.

The Board of Trustees adjusted their 2021 annual budget and approved a 3 percent cost of living adjustment to employee salaries, retroactive to Feb. 1. They also approved Departments be authorized to provide an average of 2 percent merit increases to staff members, retroactive to Jan. 1 – a move applicable for employees as performance review periods occur.

“The Board of Trustees acknowledges the importance of the work that each and every member of the Tribal government staff has performed over the past year,” the BOT said in an email sent to Tribal employees. “Board authorization of this COLA and reinstitution of merit increases is something that is but a small token of the appreciation that the Board and the OED have for the diligence and perseverance that staff have shown over the past year.”

The decisions were based upon recommendations from the Finance Department and the Office of Executive Director, with review from the Treasurer.