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Patrick County approves ordinance to authorize state-supported employee bonuses; board appropriates funds for social services payments
Summary
The Patrick County Board of Supervisors on July 14 approved an ordinance authorizing payment of bonuses set by the Commonwealth and moved to appropriate $91,520.80 to cover bonuses and payroll taxes, with the state reimbursing most costs and the county covering the balance for some local employees.
Patrick County’s Board of Supervisors on July 14 approved an ordinance authorizing county payment of bonuses for state and state-supported local employees and appropriated funds to cover those payments.
The ordinance cites the authority in the Code of Virginia and follows the state budget action that authorized a one-time 1.5% bonus for state and state-supported local employees. The board voted to appropriate $91,520.80 to cover bonuses and related payroll taxes; the county’s packet notes $85,000 of that amount will be reimbursed by the state with the county responsible for the remaining balance.
County staff told the board that the Commonwealth’s bonus program treats different local offices differently. A staff member said, “The state of Virginia has authorized a 1.5 percent one-time bonus for state and state-supported local employees,” and explained that some local positions are only partially reimbursed by the state while others, including the sheriff’s office, receive full reimbursement.
Supervisors asked for documentation showing how the state split reimbursements for specific constitutional offices and offices such as social services, the treasurer and commissioner of revenue. A staff member said the county would provide the spreadsheets showing the state’s breakdown while the meeting continued.
The board approved the ordinance and the appropriation. The roll call on the appropriation showed Supervisors Marshall, Perry, Overby and the chair voting aye and Supervisor Kendrick voting no.
The discussion made clear the timing and reimbursement vary by department: some departments are fully state-reimbursed for the bonus amounts they were already budgeting, while others may require partial county funding when local salary categories are exhausted. Board members asked staff to provide the department-level reimbursement schedules and the timing for when bonuses must be paid so the county can reconcile the payments and expected reimbursements.
The county’s action authorizes implementing the state-directed bonus locally and provides the specific appropriation to meet payroll and tax obligations tied to those bonuses. Staff will distribute the state spreadsheets and follow up with department-specific timing and reimbursement details.
The board moved on to public comment and other agenda items after the vote.
