Board includes $1,650 staff pay increase in draft budget; exemptions and cost impacts discussed

Jackson County staff presented a draft budget that includes a $1,650 pay increase for county employees; staff estimated the cost of that increase at approximately $4,415,000 for non‑sworn employees. The presenter and commissioners discussed excluding sworn correctional and sheriff’s office officers — who are receiving a separate increase funded by an FDLE grant — and excluding employees who recently received a $2/hour raise, which staff said would reduce the draft budget cost by roughly $90,000 to $100,000.

Commissioners raised concerns about retention in high-turnover departments, including road and bridge, and discussed how the $1,650 increase interacts with recent targeted $2/hour raises for certain positions. Staff clarified that the budgeted amount includes adjustments to the bottom of pay ranges, so future hires would start at the new minimums where changes have been authorized. The board debated whether removing the $1,650 item for some employees would be counterproductive to recruiting in certain departments.

During the workshop a motion to include the pay increase in the proposed budget was made and seconded; the motion passed during the meeting. Staff and commissioners asked for final pay-range and hiring-cost details to be included in materials presented at the September public hearings.