Dunn County HR proposes new performance-based pay plan, seeks ordinance change to remove step system

Sarah Stansberry, the county talent development manager, told the Neighbors of Dunn County standing committee on July 17 that Human Resources will link next year’s pay increases to a revamped performance-evaluation system and asked the board to approve changes to the personnel ordinance to allow that change.

Stansberry said the county will move to shorter, regular “performance check-ins” instead of the older annual review cycle and will use the October check-in as the basis for 2026 pay adjustments. "We really just want for employees to have regular and ongoing feedback from their manager so that they know where they stand," Stansberry said.

The proposed personnel-ordinance change would keep the current pay grades (minimum and maximum for each grade) but eliminate the 11-step progression inside each grade. Under the 2026 proposal described to the committee, employees rated “meets expectations” would receive a 2.75% increase, employees rated “exceeds expectations” would receive 3.25%, and employees rated “needs improvement” would receive no base increase. For staff already at the maximum of a pay grade, HR proposed a cash bonus approximating the difference…