Commission moves to 2% COLA, shifts remaining budgeted increase to courthouse repairs

At the Sept. 9 session, commissioners debated cost-of-living adjustments for county employees and voted to apply a 2% COLA while reallocating the remainder of the previously budgeted 4% to courthouse repair and improvement accounts.

Why it matters: The COLA affects all county employees’ take-home pay and is part of an overall compensation conversation that included merit/step increases. County human-resources and finance staff advised the commission on the trade-offs between percentage raises and equal-dollar adjustments; some commissioners expressed support for the step program and said step raises provide predictable progress for long-term employees.

What was decided: A motion to set the COLA at 2% passed; the commission directed staff to move the remaining budgeted amount (the difference between the budgeted 4% and the approved 2%) into the courthouse repair/building fund so the county’s mill rate would remain unchanged for the year. Commissioners and staff also discussed whether to allocate the COLA as an equal-dollar amount spread across employees versus a flat percentage; the commission kept the 2% structure for budget purposes but asked staff to present final wage tables and step adjustments for review before the final budget adoption.

Custodian and staffing: Courthouse custodial staffing also came up. Staff reported a custodian position was included in the budget at roughly $25,000 (listed as $20/hour in the discussion for salary calculations with expenses around $50 for utilities/maintenance lines). Commissioners asked staff to confirm whether current custodial work should continue through the end of the year or be advertised for a replacement; staff will check with the incumbent about availability and timing.

Next steps: Staff will update budget worksheets to reflect the 2% COLA decision, transfer the remaining budgeted funds to the courthouse repair line, and prepare final salary-step proposals for the commission’s next meeting. Final budget adoption is scheduled for the commission’s upcoming meeting cycle before the statutory deadline.