Santa Barbara County’s elected department heads will get 5% salary raises this year, and future increases will be tied to the Consumer Price Index.

With the increases, the five elected department heads — auditor-controller; clerk-recorder-assessor; district attorney; sheriff-coroner; and treasurer-tax collector-public administrator — will each be making more than $244,000 per year.

The county Board of Supervisors approved a salary resolution last week that sets compensation and benefits for the elected department heads, and allows 0-5% raises each year based on the CPI.

The resolution also removes benefits that don’t apply, such as accruing sick leave, bilingual pay, and tuition reimbursement.

After a tense conversation about raises in August last year, the supervisors rejected 5% salary increases and approved smaller ones for these same five department heads.

That’s where Supervisor Steve Lavagnino suggested tying their pay to the CPI, just like the Board of Supervisors.

Human Resources Director Maria Elena De Guevara said the 5% raises go into effect Sept. 18 and will cost $93,210 annually for all five people.