Wayne County approves $6 million amendment to fund Third Judicial Circuit employee pay increases

Wayne County commissioners approved Amendment 1 to a four-year funding agreement with the Third Judicial Circuit Court of Michigan on Jan. 15, authorizing $6,000,000 to increase pay and related employee costs for court staff.

The amendment formalizes a budget adjustment the county approved last month and responds to a court-ordered funding structure that commissioners said traces to litigation dating to 2011.

Jim Jernigan, assistant corporation counsel, described the item as an amendment to the existing funding agreement. Greg McIntyre, deputy budget director, said the county completed a budget analysis and that the previously approved budget adjustment moves the dollars into place so the agreement can be executed. Commissioner Alan Killeen reviewed the history of the agreements and said the county has maintained multiyear funding contracts with the Third Judicial Circuit since a court order following litigation in 2011.

When asked how the $6,000,000 would be used, McIntyre said the court’s goal is for the funds to go to employee compensation. Commissioner Killeen and McIntyre clarified that the amount will cover salaries and benefits; McIntyre estimated roughly 30% of the total would apply to benefits and the remainder to salary and related employee costs. Jernigan and McIntyre said the county treated the amendment as a document to implement the budget change already approved by the commission.

Commissioner Alan Wilson moved approval; Commissioner Killeen seconded. Commissioners voted by tablet; the motion carried.

The amendment will be executed by county staff to implement the wage and retention adjustments referenced in the agreement.