Surry County approves one-time bonuses for employees; board uses contingency funds with staff directed to seek replacements

Surry County supervisors on July 2 authorized a one-time bonus program for county and constitutional-office employees following state guidance, approving a 1.5% bonus (calculated on base salaries as of June 30) for eligible employees and a $250 lump-sum payment for permanent part-time employees.

Staff described the state's mandate to reimburse certain state-supported positions through the Compensation Board and recommended extending the same 1.5% payment to all county-funded employees to preserve equity among staff. Staff estimated the county's net cost to cover constitutional-office employees not fully reimbursed by the Compensation Board at about $21,024; funding to extend the bonus to other county employees was estimated at $56,692, for a total county cost of roughly $77,716 if fully adopted.

Board debate centered on the funding source for the county's portion. One supervisor asked staff to find budget adjustments to avoid using contingency; staff replied the contingency fund was the most immediately available source but agreed to review budget options and carryover balances and to seek ways to restore contingency if another funding source is found. A second supervisor characterized the payment as appropriate recognition of county employees.

The board approved a resolution directing the county administrator to implement the bonus plan and used contingency funds as the funding source for the immediate payment; members also directed staff to identify alternative budget savings or carryover that could replenish the contingency fund in the near term. The chair called the motion and reported the vote as carried by voice vote.