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Commissioners hear data showing high FTE rates and rising personnel costs; staff to refine budget figures
Summary
Following a Buildings & Grounds space study and HR personnel review, commissioners discussed that Pennington County’s staffing per capita is above peer counties, and received preliminary personnel cost scenarios showing how COLAs and step increases would affect the provisional 2026 budget.
Pennington County commissioners on July 15 heard detailed staff briefings about county staffing projections, personnel costs and an initial personnel-cost model for the 2026 provisional budget.
Buildings & Grounds director Davis Purcell presented staffing projections used to calculate space needs and noted the county’s current head count and future growth scenarios tied to court, RCPD and jail projects. Commissioners repeatedly highlighted a staffing metric Purcell referenced: “7.2 FTEs per thousand,” a rate they contrasted with peer counties and national norms.
From HR, Human Resources Director Carol Bancroft and staff outlined public outreach and the hours‑of‑operation engagement (see separate…
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