Commissioners approve law‑enforcement retention stipend and back payroll schedule change to biweekly

Colfax County commissioners approved two personnel‑pay measures: a retention stipend equal to 5% of salary for certified law‑enforcement and court security officers, and a transition of county payroll from semimonthly to biweekly pay periods.

Sheriff's Office staff presented a retention plan and an updated stipend agreement intended to help retain staffing within budget; the stipend is within state statute, staff said. "That is 5% of their salary, which is within state statute," the sheriff's representative said. Commissioners voted to approve the stipend and funding was identified within the sheriff's budget.

County payroll staff and the county manager described the biweekly transition as a compliance and administrative improvement. Staff said the current semimonthly schedule can create potential issues under federal overtime rules and complicates FEMA reimbursement for disaster response. The proposed transition follows the State of New Mexico payroll calendar; staff said the change would not reduce annual pay and would include two transitional pay periods in June to align the schedule. The commission approved the payroll schedule change and asked staff to give employees notice and guidance to plan for the timing change.

The measures received broad support from commissioners, who noted the change should help public‑safety scheduling, streamline reimbursements and give payroll staff more time to process leave and overtime accurately. No additional countywide salary increases were approved at the meeting.