Montcalm County adopts nonunion wage increases retroactive to Jan. 1, 2025

The Montcalm County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to adopt a package of nonunion wage increases, making the pay changes effective retroactive to Jan. 1, 2025.

Controller Brenda presented an updated wage-study spreadsheet and outlined the recommended scale changes. Commissioners debated the scope and fiscal impact before approving the increases. "That white column in the off center to the right there is basically what I interpreted that you decided on," Brenda said while walking commissioners through the spreadsheet.

The wage study discussion covered multiple classifications, including a previously discussed pretrial agent position. Commissioners asked for clarity about whether the deputy register of deeds should be included in the uniform deputy pay adjustment; they agreed the board did not intend to reduce any employee lready earning above the proposed step. The board voted to amend and approve minutes from prior meetings to reflect that clarification before adopting the wage changes.

Commissioners asked when the increases should take effect and settled on making them retroactive to Jan. 1, 2025, with the controller handling payroll adjustments. The controller provided an estimate of total costs discussed on the record during the meeting; she said the proposal would raise general-fund expenditures and offered an overall estimate presented during deliberations.

Votes at a glance - Adopt nonunion wage increases as presented by the controller, effective retroactive to Jan. 1, 2025 — Approved (6-0). - Approve warrant reports totaling $1,255,644.17 (Warrant reports 01162025, 01232025, 01272025) — Approved (6-0). - Remove the line regarding the deputy register of deeds pay from the Jan. 13 minutes (to avoid implying a pay decrease) — Approved (6-0); minutes of Jan. 2 and Jan. 13 were approved as amended. - Place on file a letter from the prosecuting attorney requesting renaming the victim-rights coordinator to victim-rights advocate and a proposed starting rate ($25.30/hr) — Placed on file (6-0). - Place on file a prosecuting-attorney request to create an office manager/legal secretary position (proposed start $22.58/hr) — Placed on file (6-0). - Appoint Dave B. (West Michigan Regional Planning Commission) to the Community Advancement Committee through Dec. 31, 2025 — Approved (6-0). - Place the City of Stanton request for a DDA representative on file — Placed on file (6-0). - Approve and sign a letter to the Kent County Commission asking reconsideration of a flow-control decision affecting landfill tipping (committee-recommended) — Approved (6-0). - Place consent-agenda items 8–16 on file (including animal-control quarterly report) — Placed on file (6-0).

Context and key details Brenda told commissioners the spreadsheet reflected prior deliberations and the most recent adjustments discussed at earlier meetings on Jan. 2 and Jan. 13. Commissioners spent time clarifying whether deputy positions already paid above the proposed step should be lowered; they agreed they would not reduce existing pay and directed staff to correct the minutes that implied otherwise.

Several proposals from the county prosecuting attorney drew questions about collective-bargaining implications. Commissioners and staff said changes to wage or classification for positions covered by AFSCME would require union agreement and could reopen contract negotiations. The board placed both of the prosecutor—orrespondence items on file rather than acting on them immediately.

The meeting also included routine business: approval of warrant reports totaling $1,255,644.17 and the appointment of a citizen to a county committee. Commissioners approved a committee-recommended letter to Kent County seeking reconsideration of a landfill flow-control policy that would affect Montcalm County—acilities and recycling revenue.

Ending The board completed its remaining correspondence and committee reports and adjourned following brief public comment. The controller will implement the wage changes and coordinate any payroll adjustments required by the retroactive effective date.