Scott County's top administrator is making less than two of his subordinates and deserves a raise, the board is being told.

Gary Shelton's five years on the job have coincided with a recession in which tax increases were minimized and staff pay became an especially sensitive topic.

His own pay, about $130,000, has risen just half a percent a year, less than the roughly 2 percent annually for other county leaders, a staff report says.

It's the lowest of his metro peers and would still be lowest even if he gets the 5 percent ($6,635) bump being sought, the report says.

Scott is among the smaller counties in the metro. But the pay is also less than "many of" the city managers within the county, it adds.

The board, which has clashed with Shelton at times, is to consider the request this week.

David Peterson