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Commissioners and staff spar over 3% COLA, step increases and shift away from merit raises
Summary
At the budget workshop commissioners pressed staff on a proposed 3% cost-of-living increase and a 1.25% step for eligible employees; commissioners and managers debated merit-based raises vs. step/grade reclassifications and asked staff to provide comparative salary data for peer counties.
Commissioners spent a sustained portion of the workshop on pay policy, longevity steps and merit pay, pressing staff for comparative data and alternatives to an across‑the‑board cost‑of‑living adjustment.
Interim County Manager Miss Blue told the board that the draft budget factors a 3% COLA and "a 1 step for anyone that's been here longer than a year as of 07/01/2025," the step equating to about 1.25 percent for eligible employees. Miss Blue said the 3% figure tracks the consumer price index for the Southeast region.
Several…
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