County approves summer youth program changes, adds preference and $0.50 returnee bump
Committee approved three revisions to the 2026 Columbia County summer youth employment program: DPW interns must hold driver's licenses, returning youth receive a $0.50 hourly raise (from $17.25 to $17.75), and county residents are prioritized for placements with supervisors allowed to recommend noncounty candidates only if slots remain.
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A county human-resources presenter summarized proposed revisions to the 2026 summer youth employment program, describing three changes: mandatory driver's licenses for Department of Public Works interns; retention pay of an extra $0.50 per hour for returning trained youth (raising the rate to $17.75); and a formalized placement priority for Columbia County residents, with supervisors able to recommend nonresident applicants only after county slots are filled. The presenter said funding is available in the budget for the proposed retention increase.
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