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Wicomico County plans split raises for staff, flags 11% health‑insurance increase in FY26 budget
Summary
Finance director Pam Olin told the Wicomico County Council that the FY26 budget includes a 3% pay‑scale increase in July and a further 2% step/in‑scale movement in January, and that countywide health‑insurance costs are budgeted to rise about 11%.
Wicomico County finance officials told the County Council during an April budget work session that the recommended FY26 budget spreads planned employee pay increases across two pay periods and reflects a roughly 11% rise in health‑insurance costs.
Pam Olin, the county finance director, said the administration is “increasing the scale for those who are on the M class as of the first full pay period in July by 3%. And then in January, in the first full pay period in January, we're moving people an additional 2%.” Olin said splitting the increase reduces near‑term fiscal impact because the county pays only part of the step in FY26.
The split raises are entered in the position control document as the full, year‑end amount even though part of the pay increase will not take effect until January, Olin said. “The position control document reflects the ending number that might happen in January. It is not the number that maybe started in July,” she said.
Olin also told council that health‑insurance premiums “are going up by 11%. And so that is reflected in the departments.” She added the actual change by department may vary because of shifts in utilization and budgeted vacancy assumptions.
Council members asked for the dollar totals for the combined raises and for departmental breakdowns. Olin said she did not have a single total at the meeting and would provide the requested figures. When asked whether the county could exclude bargaining‑unit (FOP) increases because they are under contract, Olin confirmed contract terms will govern those employees’ raises and that the council’s salary totals exclude FOP negotiated amounts where appropriate.
Why it matters: The split increase changes when departments and positions will actually receive the full pay change and affects the FY26 operating picture; the health‑insurance rise increases personnel costs across departments and was cited as a main driver in multiple department budgets.
What remains unresolved: Council asked staff to supply the total dollar cost of the 3% + 2% approach and a departmental breakdown; Olin said she would deliver those numbers after the work session.
