Committee adds Lincoln’s birthday to 2026 holiday calendar after courthouse schedule change

The Administration and Legal Affairs Committee voted 2–1 on Aug. 13 to add Lincoln’s birthday, Feb. 12, as an observed holiday on the county’s 2026 calendar so the county schedule matches the courthouse schedule.

A committee member (unnamed) noted the courthouse “now gets Christmas Eve off, and they never had before,” and warned that the courthouse decision effectively gave those employees an extra holiday compared with other county staff. That member said the discrepancy is likely to prompt questions from unions and other county employees.

Nut graf: The amendment aims to unify holiday observance across county offices and the courthouse, but committee members acknowledged the change could prompt further discussion at the full board level because courthouse staffing and collective-bargaining agreements differ from other county departments.

Discussion and details - Committee members discussed how some administrative and health-department staff previously “sacrificed” Lincoln’s birthday when the county adopted a different schedule; one member recommended restoring Feb. 12 to match the courthouse. - Members noted union contracts and collective-bargaining agreements could affect how holidays are scheduled and observed; one member asked that the committee include an explanatory note when forwarding the resolution to the full board.

Formal action - A motion to add Feb. 12 as an observed holiday and match the court schedule passed 2–1. One committee member voted against the amendment, saying the county already has numerous observed holidays.

Ending - The committee approved the amended 2026 holiday calendar for referral to the full board and directed staff to note the rationale and differences in observance when the item moves forward.