Monroe County Council votes to reinstate longevity pay for 2026 after public outcry

The Monroe County Council voted Wednesday to reinstate longevity pay and the corresponding FICA for 2026 budgets after extended debate and public comment, passing the motion 5–2.

Council President Crossley opened the evening by acknowledging the council’s earlier decision and apologizing for how it was handled: “I am sorry,” she said, taking responsibility for the timing and process that led to strong public reaction. The vote to restore longevity came after residents, elected officials and agency leaders urged the council to reverse last week’s action that had removed longevity as an employee benefit.

Why it matters: Councilors and the auditor’s office stressed the county still faces a multi‑million‑dollar shortfall and warned that any change must be balanced elsewhere in the budget. Auditor staff presented deficit figures and options throughout the meeting, and council members repeatedly said they were trying to avoid layoffs while balancing competing pressures on public safety, health and general services.

Council discussion and public input came in two parts: council members debated tradeoffs among longevity, COLA and other personnel costs; dozens of county employees and agency leaders testified during public comment about the effect of removing longevity on long‑term staff. “These are the people that make it work,” said Stuart Baggerly, who identified himself as a long‑time public‑defender office employee. Other commenters described employees holding multiple jobs, reliance on longevity as part of household budgets, and the disparate impacts of replacing longevity with a percent‑based COLA.

A late amendment proposed by Councilor Henry to reinstate longevity only if the council simultaneously set a 0% COLA for 2026 failed on a roll call vote (motion failed). Councilors who opposed the amendment said an immediate elimination of COLA would repeat the problems that arose from last week’s action and risk further harm to employees; supporters said offsets were needed to balance the budget if longevity were returned.

Formal action: Councilor Iverson made the motion to reinstate longevity pay and associated FICA for all 2026 budgets; a second was recorded. The motion passed 5–2. The council did not attach a simultaneous reduction to COLA; members agreed further options (steps reform, phased changes) should be explored in the coming months.

What the council and staff said: Auditor staff walked the council through high‑level deficit calculations and fund‑by‑fund figures, noting levy funds showed a roughly $6.9 million shortfall at the time of the presentation. Councilors repeatedly emphasized the goal of protecting the workforce and preserving other employee benefits such as PERF contributions and self‑insurance while moving toward a sustainable budget.

What’s next: Councilors said they will continue work on offsets and structural changes (including possible step‑system reforms) beginning in early 2026. The council scheduled final adoption of the 2026 budgets for October 14, when additional revisions and formal appropriation language will be considered.

Ending note: The vote restores the longevity payments the council removed last week; the council directed staff and departments to continue developing alternatives and offsets before the January salary ordinance and at midyear review if revenues permit.