Commission approves phased payroll holdback to address bookkeeping timing

The commission approved a phased payroll timing change that shifts payroll one day per pay period (a one-day-per-pay-period holdback) over a series of months to achieve a multi-day timing change. The measure is intended to avoid paying employees for work before it has been processed and to give the finance office extra time for bank processing and records reconciliation. Finance staff explained that the county currently pays employees two days ahead in some pay cycles and that the holdback will move the pay date so that employees are paid after work is completed. The phased change is scheduled to begin after the fiscal-year close and onboarding pressures; staff recommended starting the change in September to avoid extra workload during July and August financial close processes. Commissioners discussed operational impacts for departments that already manage holdbacks (for example, sheriff’s office and EMS); finance staff noted those departments may need short-pay procedures during the transition. The motion to implement the phased payroll timing change passed in the meeting record.