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Resident asks commissioners to restore merit-based service bonuses for county employees
Summary
Scott Ward urged the board to restore service bonuses (merit-based $500 to $2,000) that employees expected, suggesting a staggered restoration by salary bands to help lower-paid county staff.
Scott Ward, a county resident, used the public comment period to urge commissioners to restore service bonuses for county employees he said were reduced after a recent tax increase.
Ward described the service bonus as a merit-based increase, not automatic, ranging "between $500 and $2,000 a year" depending on years of service. He said long-tenured employees who planned around the bonus now bear a larger portion of the burden after the tax change and that the bonuses are important for lower-paid staff such as deputies, jailers, park attendants, maintenance workers and DSS and health intake staff. "This is a big big portion of their potential yearly income," Ward said.
Ward suggested the board ask the county manager to find money in the current budget to restore the service bonus effective Jan. 1 (he referenced "January July 1" in his remarks) and proposed a staggered approach by salary: 100% restoration for employees making less than $50,000, 67% for those making $50,000 to $75,000, 33% for $75,000 to $100,000 and no restoration for those over $100,000.
Ending: Ward said restoring some or all of the bonus would help employee morale; no formal board action or vote occurred during the meeting on this request.
