Attorney General Brenna Bird on Monday released a formal opinion clarifying how Iowa counties must set salaries for elected sheriffs under the state’s “Back the Blue” law. The opinion was issued in response to a request from county attorneys in Wayne and Ringgold Counties. The law, passed in 2021 and refined in 2024, requires county compensation boards and boards of supervisors to set sheriff salaries comparable to those of law enforcement leaders in city police departments and state agencies, and the AG’s opinion solidifies the legislature’s intent. The law was enacted to address long-standing pay disparities between county sheriffs and command officers in agencies such as the Iowa State Patrol, the Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI), and police chiefs serving similar-sized populations. Bird says, “The Iowa legislature passed our Back the Blue law and made it clear that our sheriffs should be paid comparably to other law enforcement leaders. I’m glad Iowa backs our heroes and their law enforcement leaders. Sheriffs serve an essential role in keeping our counties and state safe.” According to salary surveys from the Iowa State Association of Counties (ISAC), the average sheriff’s salary increased 44 percent from just over $87,0000 in Fiscal Year (FY) 2020 to slightly above $125,000 in FY26, following enactment of the law. Bird notes that some counties remain out of compliance. Bird’s complete formal opinion is included with this story on our website.
______
