Commissioners approve county pay-and-classification changes; wage study triggers debate, passes 3-2

Citrus County commissioners on July 29 approved a pay-and-classification study that resets the county's pay scales after a consultant review. The motion to accept the study passed 3-2. The study produced department-specific recommendations and cost estimates. County staff summarized the fiscal impact to public safety and EMS: the proposed changes would add roughly $985,000 to the fire wages budget and about $490,000 on the EMS side as part of the FY26 compensation adjustments, with a total personnel-cost impact across recommended classifications included in the packet. Commissioners debated whether implementing broad reclassifications and the recommended wage adjustments now was appropriate while the sheriff's office had requested a separate pay adjustment; some commissioners expressed concern about fairness and the county's ability to absorb the increases when other constitutional officers had different proposals. One commissioner said that a standard across-the-board percent increase should be coordinated with constitutional officers; another said the pay-and-classification exercise is intended to keep county jobs competitive and to correct compaction. After debate the board voted 3-2 to accept the pay-and-classification report and to move the recommendations forward for implementation in next year's budget cycle. The motion passed with three votes in favor and two opposed. What comes next: Implementation will require the personnel and finance departments to adjust budgets and to finalize reclassification steps for affected positions; staff said the FY26 budget already factors the study into personnel costs. Commissioners asked for additional follow-up material on how the study affects specific classifications and the county's market comparators.