Personnel committee recommends $15 minimum wage, pay-study implementation and 16 hours inclement-weather leave

On April 1 the county’s personnel committee presented a package of recommendations for commissioners to consider, including raising the countywide minimum start rate to $15 per hour and implementing a previously presented full pay study.

The personnel committee said 10 county employees currently earn less than $15 per hour and proposed moving the start rate to $15 an hour. The committee also recommended the board implement the full pay study presented last year. Other proposals included exploring a service fee on property parcels to fund emergency services (911, fire rescue and law enforcement) and adding 16 hours of paid leave each year for inclement weather or emergency closings; unused time would roll into employees’ sick-vacation accruals.

Commissioners and committee members discussed trade-offs, noting that adding 16 hours of paid leave is roughly equivalent to two additional days of paid time off for employees and that some commissioners preferred directing funds toward raising base pay for the lowest-paid employees instead. Committee members gave estimates of those affected, saying many employees paid under $15 per hour earn between $12 and $13.50. No formal action was taken at the meeting; commissioners said they would continue to review the proposals during upcoming budget work sessions.