Dunn County committee weighs major change to pay system, ties 2026 increases to quarterly performance ratings

Dunn County’s Committee on Administration heard a proposal to change how the county evaluates and pays employees, including a shift from an 11‑step pay system to minimum–maximum pay grades tied to quarterly performance check‑ins and a proposed 2026 pay schedule that would give employees rated “meets expectations” a 2.5% increase and those rated “exceeds expectations” a 3% increase.

The change was presented by Jenna, human resources staff, who told the committee the county will move “from the traditional annual performance evaluation model to more of a quarterly performance check‑in approach.” She said the first round of quarterly check‑ins will begin July 1 and that managers will complete a short form that includes a rating and a brief narrative that employees, managers’ managers and HR can view.

Jenna said the county is proposing that an October check‑in (completed between Oct. 1 and Nov. 15) provide the rating used to determine 2026 pay adjustments: “If an employee is…