The Sherman Chronicle

The Ever Increasing Salary of Sherman's First Selectman

April 3rd 2025

First Selectman's Salary Year over Year

Since his election as Sherman’s First Selectman on November 7th, 2017, Don Lowe’s salary has increased from $52,000 to $83,000—an overall increase of approximately 60%. The pay increases are completely detached from comparisons resulting of inflation changes. This growth in compensation aligns with wages for first selectmen in similar small towns in the region. However, Sherman’s unique characteristics raise questions about whether this increase is justified in the context of the town’s size and the municipal services it offers.

Unlike some neighboring towns with comparable first selectman salaries, Sherman provides fewer municipal services, making its administrative needs fundamentally different. While towns with similar compensation levels may oversee a wider array of public works, emergency services, and infrastructure projects, Sherman remains a small, largely rural town with limited direct governmental functions.

Proponents of the increase argue that the higher selectman salary reflects the growing demands of the job, making the position more accessible to a broader range of qualified candidates who might otherwise be deterred by financial limitations. Some feel the need to ensure that public service is viable for those who have the necessary skills and experience. Taking this idea to it's proposed outcome; to have competent leadership, you need to offer competitive compensation.

Some critics see the decision as part of a larger trend of government and institution salaries creeping upward, a hallmark of the expanding administrator class. It's a sign that the small-town Sherman First Selectman role is evolving into a professional political bureaucratic role.

Consumer Price Index Vs Salary Increases

One chart comparison that better explains the increased selectman pay trend, is when it's overlaid atop the historical Consumer Price Index (CPI). It's important to note that most salaries are not coupled to the CPI. Even with that very generous comparison explanation, there's still some incongruities that raise some eyebrows, most notably the 2025-26 Sherman first selectman proposed pay increase. [source] For many, this could feel like a finger in the eye, when most worker's pay has been stagnant or decreasing with respect to the Consumer Price Index.

First Selectman's Salary Vs Consumer Price Index (CPI)

Tax Increases Vs Salary Increases

Financial considerations further complicate the discussion. Taxes in Sherman are projected to rise due to significant capital expenditures, including the Sherman Elementary School reconstruction, the proposed new senior center, and an ongoing exploration into improving the town’s dock facilities. These projects will require long-term financial commitments from taxpayers, potentially affecting the town’s fiscal flexibility in the coming years.

Another concerning trend is the increasing concentration of administrative responsibilities within Don Lowe’s office. He has become the primary point of contact for many town projects, filling what appears to be a growing power vacuum in Sherman’s administration. While strong leadership is essential for tackling the town’s challenges, governance that relies too heavily on one individual carries inherent risks, particularly in maintaining checks and balances within local government.

Sherman appears to be evolving into a larger, more robust municipality, offering an expanded range of services. At the same time, however, decision-making authority is consolidating into fewer hands, with power increasingly centered on a single individual. That individual, Don Lowe, also happens to be earning significantly more than when he first took office, 7% more per year, on average. While leadership and vision are necessary for progress, it is essential that Sherman’s transformation reflects the collective interests of its residents, rather than the direction of any one person.

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