Grand County officials are considering requests for several new positions and pay adjustments across departments as part of the 2026 Grand County budget process.
Human Resources Director Tess Barger presented proposed personnel changes during a budget workshop on November 5, outlining new roles in public safety, facilities, recreation, and administrative support.
Watch the video or read the full meeting transcript here
Proposed new staff positions
Watch the video or read the full meeting transcript here
Proposed new staff positions
Among the new positions proposed is a maintenance technician at the Old Spanish Trail Arena, a role Barger said has been requested repeatedly due to heavy workloads. Commissioners agreed the position appears justified after years of overtime and deferred maintenance.
A part-time victim advocate position was also recommended after Moab City ended its joint agreement with the county for shared advocacy services. Without the new hire, Barger noted, the county would risk noncompliance with victim services requirements.
A part-time Film Commission assistant was proposed to support the department’s sole full-time employee.
In the county’s wildfire and weed control programs, Barger outlined a new full-time fuels reduction technician and up to four seasonal crew members, funded primarily through a state wildfire mitigation grant. Rejecting the positions could jeopardize future grant funding, she cautioned.
Proposed salary and job reclassifications
Beyond new hires, the presentation included several reclassification and salary adjustments. Barger recommended small raises for some elected officials to bring their pay in line with statewide averages—excluding the sheriff, attorney, and commissioners, whose salaries already exceed the state benchmark. The total cost of those adjustments for the assessor, recorder, treasurer and surveyor would be about $12,500.
A separate $8,500 adjustment was proposed for the Clerk/Auditor’s salary, recognizing the combined administrative and financial responsibilities of the role.
At Canyonlands Field Airport, Barger said a new operations manager position is needed to meet Federal Aviation Administration compliance standards.
The Film Commission director’s position could be reclassified from grade 12 to 15—an increase to roughly $115,000 annually.
Similarly, the Sand Flats Recreation Area director position was also proposed for an upgrade from grade 14 to 16, based on its increased responsibilities and revenue management since 2017.
What’s next
Barger suggested the county fund a new salary survey in 2026 to evaluate pay competitiveness across departments.
Commissioners generally expressed support for reviewing the requests in detail during future workshops, with several noting the need to balance fairness with fiscal restraint.
Chair Bill Winfield asked for a simplified budget spreadsheet that would allow commissioners to test how personnel changes affect the general fund in real time.
“The bottom line is what this does to the general fund and whether we can justify it,” he said.
The commission plans to continue deliberations at its next budget meeting ahead of the tentative budget adoption later this month.
Grand County Tentative Budget 2026
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