Johnson County council members approved the county’s departmental budgets Friday and voted to set a one-time, conditional stipend for eligible full‑time employees. The stipend decision is subject to legal review and final confirmation at second reading. Council members said the budget actions will keep departments funded while the county moves to the standardized pay guidelines it adopted this spring.

The council voted to accept the commissioners’ budgets and related line items and then discussed a one‑time stipend for employees whose base pay remains below the WIS study midpoint. Council agreed on a draft plan to provide a $1,500 one‑time stipend to full‑time employees who have continuous county service from July 1, 2025, through Dec. 31, 2025. The stipend payout is to be administered in early 2026 (after payroll and benefits changes take effect) and will be subject to normal withholdings and employer payroll costs. The council carved out a small number of elected and salaried part‑time positions (for example the coroner’s salaried deputy and similar roles) for a different treatment and left details of timing and qualifying language to legal review.

Councilors said they wanted to maintain the new pay‑structure discipline they established with the WIS salary study while also recognizing staff whose pay still lags internal midpoints. Several council members said distributing a one‑time amount (rather than increasing base pay) preserves the council’s objective of consistent base pay across similar job classes.

Council members and staff said they would confirm final wording and any technical payroll details before the second reading; the vote Friday authorized the framework subject to that review.

The motion to adopt the commissioners’ budget and related funds passed on a voice vote. The stipend policy passed on a separate voice vote with the measure recorded as subject to legal review.