Commissioners adopt emergency-pay policy to compensate county staff working declared disasters

The Travis County Commissioners Court on July 22 approved an amendment to the Travis County Code (Chapter 114) establishing an emergency-pay policy to govern compensation when employees are mobilized for declared disasters. The policy change, effective July 1, 2025, clarifies reassignment expectations and adjusts pay treatment for exempt employees.

"The primary compensation change though is that our exempt employees will be paid for all hours worked at their regular rate of pay," said Kim Austin Smith, Assistant Director of Human Resources, Talent Planning and Engagement Division, describing the proposal to the court.

Why it matters: County executives and labor representatives told the court the policy addresses repeated, multi-year demands on staff as emergencies have become more frequent and costly. The policy aims to provide a clear, countywide compensation framework for employees reassigned during…