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County council votes to pause KSA pay practice amid budget uncertainty
Summary
Monroe County Council passed a temporary pause on hiring at Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSA) levels, directing that new hires be placed at base salaries pending further review; the resolution passed 5–2 after prosecutors warned the pause could hinder recruitment of experienced attorneys.
The Monroe County Council voted 5–2 on Tuesday to adopt Resolution 2025-24, temporarily suspending the county’s practice of offering Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSA) pay adjustments at hire. The pause requires department hires to be offered the base salary identified in the county salary ordinance unless the council amends the resolution.
"This resolution, ultimately, if passed, will temporarily suspend the knowledge, skills, and abilities practice or policy so that department heads may no longer submit for consideration a request to hire applicants at the 3 or 8 year level," County legal counsel Molly Turner King explained. The resolution will automatically expire in December unless the council acts to amend it sooner.
Supporters said the pause signals fiscal caution as the county awaits clearer revenue forecasts. Councilor Iverson said the measure "signals to our colleagues and partners in county government, that we are facing incredibly strong fiscal headwinds and that we are taking this very seriously." Several councilors described the pause as temporary and subject to revision once financial forecasts are clearer.
Erica Elephant, the county prosecuting attorney, urged councilors to reconsider the pause or to allow exceptions for critical positions, saying the ability to offer higher starting pay through KSAs has helped her office hire experienced deputy prosecutors. "This ability has allowed me to hire deputy prosecutors with experience...Ittakes somebody who knows something about the system and the law to really do that effectively," Elephant said. She told the council she had an upcoming vacancy with a deputy leaving June 13 and warned that pausing KSAs would increase supervision burdens and reduce experienced hires.
Council debate included concerns about retention and whether KSAs had become a frequent hiring tool for some departments; some members argued the policy was being used regularly to attract experienced staff and should be reviewed in the context of pay bands. Legal counsel said the resolution is temporary and may be amended or allowed to sunset if conditions change.
The motion to pause the policy passed with Councilors Iverson, Crossley, Bridal, Hawke and Henry voting yes; Councilors Deckard and Wilts voted no. The council recorded the outcome as a majority vote, 5–2. The resolution will remain in effect unless the council revisits or amends it prior to its December sunset.
