Commission debates FY25-26 budget options, approves hiring freeze and discusses $1,000 premium-pay proposal

Saint Clair County commissioners met in a special session Oct. 8 to consider two proposed fiscal year 2025–26 budgets — one without a 3% across-the-board raise for eligible employees and one with the 3% raise — and to take several staffing and payroll actions ahead of the new fiscal year.

The commission approved a hiring freeze for newly created positions and debated an amendment proposing a $1,000 premium payment to each full-time county employee. Commissioners also discussed removing a set of vacant job titles from the county payroll records, which, by the commission's estimate, would free roughly $1 million in budgeted salary dollars if implemented.

Why it matters: the commission's choices will determine employee pay, the size of the county payroll, and near-term budget capacity. Commissioners and staff said the county expects to draw down an estimated $3.5 million from fund balance to close the current fiscal year, and they reviewed historical budget amendments as context for the coming year.

Most important actions and votes

- The commission voted to…