The Butler County commissioners on Thursday set a 1 percent pay hike for elected officials beginning in 2014.

The seven posts up for re-election this year, including sheriff and county controller, will get a 1 percent cost-of-living increase next year.

Those officials received a 4 percent increase under a prior COLA system.

Commissioner Bill McCarrier, board chairman, said the lower COLA is needed.

“This drastically cuts the increases for elected officials,” he said.

The other seven affected posts, including the commissioners, will receive the 1 percent in 2016.

Those officials will continue receiving increases based on the Pittsburgh Consumer Price Index through 2015. For this year, that number amounted to 3.5 percent.

Cost-of-living allowances for county officials can’t be changed until new terms for those seats begin. However, the county will reset those salaries in 2016 to align them with the ones receiving 1 percent increase from 2014 onward.

The county COLA does not impact the district attorney, whose salary is set by the state. County judges are state employees.

County prison

The county commissioners approved a $4,218 settlement with Allegheny General Hospital for a disputed medical bill over a former inmate.

County solicitor Mike English said the hospital originally sued the county for $40,101.

The commissioners also approved a $13,950 contract with Easley & Rivers of Monroeville for the installation of an operable wall partition for the prison classroom.

The company submitted the lowest of three quotes to do the work.