Board approves market-based salary adjustments, changes personnel policy on prorated raises

The Westmoreland County Board of Supervisors on May 12 approved the implementation of a county compensation study by authorizing market-based salary adjustments effective May 1, 2025, and approved a minor change to the personnel policy on how July 1 salary increases are prorated for new hires.

County staff presented the compensation-study implementation and said doing so would increase payroll costs in the current fiscal year by roughly $167,000 for the two months that would appear on May 31 paychecks. The board authorized a transfer from reserves to contingency to cover that estimated cost, and instructed staff to implement the pay adjustments so employees would see the change in the next payroll cycle.

Personnel policy change In a separate but related action, the board approved an amendment to the personnel policy clarifying that employees are eligible for a salary increase on July 1 and that employees hired during the preceding year will have that July 1 increase prorated based on months employed. County staff described the change as a simplification for payroll and budgeting rather than a substantive change to eligibility.

Votes and next steps The motion to implement market-based adjustments effective May 1 was moved and seconded; the vote was recorded as unanimous in favor. The personnel-policy change also passed unanimously. Staff said they will update payroll processing and return any follow-up information to the board.

Speakers - County Administrator (presented implementation and budget transfer proposal) - Garrett Adams, Budget Manager (present during discussion)

Clarifying details - Effective date for salary adjustments: May 1, 2025 (to appear on May 31 paychecks). - Estimated FY2025 cost for two months: approximately $167,000; board authorized transfer from reserves to contingency to cover that amount. - Personnel-policy change: employees eligible for salary increase on July 1; new hires within the year receive a prorated portion of that increase based on months in the position.

Actions [{"kind":"other","identifiers":{"agenda_item_id":"salary_adjustments"},"motion":"Implement market-based salary adjustments effective May 1, 2025 and authorize transfer from reserves to contingency to cover estimated costs","mover":"not specified","second":"not specified","vote_record":[{"member":"Ms. Henson","vote":"yes"},{"member":"Mr. McCormick","vote":"yes"},{"member":"Mr. Scribe","vote":"yes"},{"member":"Mr. Ingram","vote":"yes"},{"member":"Chairman Fisher","vote":"yes"}],"tally":{"yes":5},"outcome":"approved","notes":"Estimated two-month FY2025 cost ~ $167,000; transfer from reserves authorized."},{"kind":"policy","identifiers":{"agenda_item_id":"personnel_policy_change"},"motion":"Amend personnel policy so July 1 salary increases are prorated for new hires based on months employed","mover":"not specified","second":"not specified","vote_record":[{"member":"Ms. Jensen","vote":"yes"},{"member":"Mr. McCormick","vote":"yes"},{"member":"Mr. Ingram","vote":"yes"},{"member":"Ms. Henson","vote":"yes"},{"member":"Chairman Fisher","vote":"yes"}],"tally":{"yes":5},"outcome":"approved","notes":"Minor administrative change to simplify payroll; effective July 1 cycle."}]

Ending County staff will execute the payroll changes and the finance office will complete the reserve transfer. The board will receive follow-up implementation details in subsequent updates.