Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Compensation Policy topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
County officials debate longevity pay under Pulaski County salary matrix; staff ask review
Summary
Council members and staff discussed how the county salary matrix treats longevity pay for department heads and appointed vs. elected positions, with requests to review whether longevity should be applied more broadly.
County staff and elected officials discussed inconsistencies in county pay practices tied to the salary matrix during the budget review, focusing on longevity pay and how department heads are classified.
Speakers said the salary matrix originated in 2015 and was modeled off pay practices in the sheriff’s department. A county staff member said the matrix uses the chief deputy’s pay as the department-head benchmark rather than the sheriff’s salary because the sheriff’s state-set pay was too high to form a workable percentage basis. "When you use the chief deputy's pay, that's your department head...so make it fair and equal across the board," the staff member said.
Several county officials and staff requested the council examine whether longevity pay should apply to additional positions, particularly employees who previously received longevity or who are no longer appointed. One speaker noted there is no ordinance or state statute that prohibits longevity pay and asked the council to study whether the matrix should be changed. Staff described the matrix as a “living document” and said prior changes had sought to correct inconsistencies.
No formal motion or vote was recorded on changing longevity rules. The discussion concluded with agreement to take the topic under advisement for further review during the budget process.
