Commissioners approve one-time retention incentive for Precinct 4 employees over dissent on precedent
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Summary
The court approved a one-time retention payout for employees in Commissioner Briones' Precinct 4 office, voting 4-1 on the item after debate about fairness and whether other elected offices should receive similar authority and funding.
Commissioners on Jan. 9 approved a one-time retention incentive for employees in Precinct 4 funded from that office's budget. Commissioner Briones said the incentive is a targeted retention tool for top-performing employees and that her office followed legal and budgetary guidance in designing the plan.
"This is a retention incentive within my approved budget," Briones said, adding the program focuses on the top two performance categories. Briones said her staff developed a performance-evaluation system with clear KPIs, midyear checks and annual reviews, and that she expects the incentive to help retain staff and maintain service levels.
Commissioner Garcia supported the item but emphasized the need for a process that other departments could use if they develop comparable performance systems. Commissioner Brownis and Commissioner Ellis supported the incentive and praised the precinct's performance-management approach.
Commissioner Ramsey opposed the motion, saying he could not support a policy that grants discretion to one office while other offices with similar personnel needs would not automatically receive the same benefit. Ramsey said he wanted a broader county policy discussion on one-time incentives and a consistent process for all elected and appointed offices.
County legal staff said the payout, as structured, is limited to Precinct 4 and does not create a countywide entitlement. The motion passed 4-1.