County staff reviewed a recent classification and salary study and presented preliminary cost estimates the board would face to move employees below a new minimum pay into range. The staff member presenting the analysis, Mr. Gentry, summarized the figures and told the board the bring-to-minimum calculation would cost roughly $590,000 in the first year. He said the number is preliminary and depends on how planned across-the-board adjustments are applied.

Commissioners discussed interaction between the study's recommendations and the 1% and $0.50-per-hour adjustments the board has placed in the budget. Staff noted that applying those adjustments affects how many employees fall below the new minimum and that the cost estimate could be reduced accordingly. Staff provided rough figures during the hearing: the 1% adjustment would cost about $168,000 and the $0.50 increase about $440,000; combined, those adjustments are on the order of $608,000, but not all employees are affected equally and the bring-to-minimum pool applies only to those below a new classification minimum.

Board direction and next steps: commissioners asked staff to compute final bring-to-minimum figures that include the planned 1% and $0.50 adjustments and to return with a clear count of employees affected and a firm dollar estimate before the final budget hearing. Commissioners discussed options to phase increases over multiple years and to use merit-based bonuses for higher-paid positions, and staff flagged statutory considerations related to bonuses and publicly funded pay adjustments.

No final pay decisions were made at the hearing; the board set direction for staff analysis so commissioners can consider precise costs at the final budget vote.