Committee OKs step-based salary schedule to support Workday implementation; members raise concerns about flexibility

The Ways and Means Committee approved Referral 26-0125 to amend the 2026 salary schedule for flat and hourly employees, creating defined steps to support the county’s transition to the Workday payroll system.

Administration explained that the step schedule divides existing pay ranges into steps (for example, a 30% range divided into ten 3% steps) and that the underlying salary ranges remain unchanged. A county staff member said, "no pay scales have been altered. The range is still remaining the same from the low end to the high end that was authorized with the '26 budget. This is only creating defined steps within that range." The administration also said the referral includes a conservative maximum cost estimate of $917.72 per pay period in the scenario with the largest potential impact, and that the plan would not deliberately reduce employees’ pay; instead, employees would be placed at the closest appropriate step without going below current pay absent a separate request.

Legislators asked whether the legislature would retain flexibility to place employees within steps and whether additional intermediate steps could be added; administration said departments generally have authority to place employees but the Workday implementation requires defined steps. The referral carried on a voice vote.