Supervisors authorize public hearing on state-funded 1.5% one-time employee bonus

The Prince Edward County Board of Supervisors authorized a public hearing at its June meeting on a draft ordinance to provide a one-time bonus equal to 1.5% of base salary for eligible county employees and officers, following action by the Virginia General Assembly.

County staff (identified in the meeting as Sarah Crystal) told the board the General Assembly approved and funded a one-time bonus equal to 1.5% of base salary to be paid July 1, 2025, for eligible full-time employees and officers. The county's proposed FY26 budget includes the same 1.5% one-time bonus for county employees not covered by state compensation boards, including full- and part-time employees in locally elected constitutional offices and certain court-related positions.

Staff presented a draft ordinance for the board to authorize for public hearing at the board's June 10, 2025 meeting and said the county had set aside roughly $110,030 in the pay raise reserve to cover the bonus. Staff estimated approximately $48,002.15 of that amount would be reimbursed by the state (Comp Board or similar agencies). Staff also said the bonus would not affect VRS contributions or health insurance; it is a straight, one-time payment.

Sarah Crystal and other staff noted some neighboring localities were extending the bonus to part-time employees; staff told the board the county included part-time employees in the draft to avoid inequity. The board authorized advertising the draft ordinance for the June public hearing by motion and the board recorded affirmative votes on the motion.

The ordinance must be adopted following the public hearing if the board chooses to do so; staff said the hearing is required under the Code of Virginia citation noted in the meeting materials.