The Colfax County Commission approved service agreements for the FY26 home-visiting program, including a part-time coordinator position, and authorized the county to collect an administrative fee from the grant, officials said. Staff and the county attorney warned that because the workers are treated as employees for payroll (W‑2), their contracts and benefit calculations must be reconciled with grant rules and PERA (Public Employees Retirement Association) requirements.
Program staff asked that the grant pay 80 percent of group insurance with employees paying 20 percent; the commission approved moving the agreements forward with that understanding. County counsel and the manager said existing contracts incorrectly described workers as independent contractors (W‑9) when they are paid on W‑2; staff will reissue contracts reflecting W‑2 status. The county attorney said they must contact PERA to determine whether grant-funded employees are required to participate in state retirement; if PERA participation is required, the employees’ take-home pay may be reduced because retirement and related employer costs must be covered within the grant or county budget.
Commissioners requested quarterly activity reports (number of home visits and general location, not names) from the program for oversight. Staff said reimbursements from the grant will be processed monthly and that an administrative fee of $36,186 was budgeted for the county this year. The commission approved the service agreements and directed staff to update contracts and bring final versions consistent with payroll and PERA determinations.