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Commissioners debate step-and-grade and longevity pay in 2026 budget; longevity cost targeted at about $28,000
Summary
County commissioners weighed a proposed step-and-grade pay scale, a 4% cost-of-living option and a longevity bonus component that staff said would affect eight long-tenured employees and add roughly $28,022 to the payroll cost in 2026.
Evans County commissioners spent significant time during the 2026 budget hearing debating a proposed step-and-grade pay plan, a 4% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) and a longevity incentive designed to retain employees with long service.
The proposal and why it matters: County staff and proponents argued the step-and-grade structure provides consistent pay progressions tied to certifications, longevity and performance. Supporters said the county currently lags market averages and that longevity and structured steps help retain experienced staff, reduce turnover and preserve institutional knowledge. "When you lose that experience, you start over," one county official said, arguing the county has only eight employees with more than 10…
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