Supervisors propose $1-per-hour across-grid boost as alternative to a COLA for 2026

Three Rock County supervisors presented an alternative approach to the usual cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for 2026: instead of a uniform percentage increase, the proposal would raise every hourly cell on the county pay grid by $1 for the year.

The presenters, Supervisor Wilson (lead), Supervisor Tillman and Supervisor Schwartz, said the change is intended as a one-time corrective to address pay compression and recruitment challenges. Supervisor Wilson said implementing $1 per grid cell would reduce the disparity created by percentage COLAs, which give larger dollar increases to higher-paid staff.

Why it matters: County staff make up the bulk of the operating budget and recruiting and retention problems were cited as a key driver. The presenters said the $1-per-cell method benefits lower-wage staff proportionally more than a percentage COLA and would be simple to understand and implement as a one-year measure.

Details from the presentation: The presenters said last year’s budget authorized about 1,341 full-time-equivalent (FTE) positions, and after excluding elected officials and some groups, roughly 1,170 FTEs (about 87% of the workforce) are compensated under the grid the proposal would alter. Examples given in the presentation: - Grid grade C, step 2 (current hourly $19.23): a $1 increase would move it to $20.23; a 3% COLA would move it to $19.81. Presenters said the $1 change yields an annual difference of about $2,080 compared with about $1,200 under a 3% COLA. - Grid grade T, step 2 (current hourly $61.21): a $1 increase would move it to $62.21; a 3% COLA would move it to $63.05. Presenters said a 3% COLA produces about $3,820 in annual pay increase at that level versus $2,080 under the $1 plan.

The presenters said the $1-per-cell option narrows the rate gap that percentage COLAs would widen. They noted the pay-grid gap between the lowest and highest annual salaries is large (presenters said it was "$149,198"), and said the $1 approach would “freeze” that gap rather than expand it.

Budget and next steps: The presenters said the cost of the $1-per-cell plan was close to the cost of a 3% COLA in their calculations, and that implementing it would require a budget amendment to the finance committee. They framed the proposal as a one-time implementation for 2026 only and said merit-step increases would still be available under the grid.

Questions from supervisors: Supervisors asked how part-time staff would be affected, how the plan interacts with health insurance premium increases, and how it would affect recruitment for high-turnover jobs (examples cited included highway technicians and 9-1-1 telecommunicators). Presenters said the dollar-per-hour increase applies to any position on the grid whether held part time or full time, though health-insurance effects vary by employee status; they said the approach “isn’t a panacea” but would help mid-range pay grades where recruiting is hardest.

Status: The proposal was introduced for consideration; the Board did not adopt it during the meeting. Presenters said the next step would be preparing a budget amendment for the finance committee and the County Board to consider.