Churchill County to seek external compensation study; PayPoint and Baker Tilly invited to present

The Churchill County Board of Commissioners voted to pursue an external classification and compensation study to guide salary and pay‑structure adjustments for regular county positions.

Joe Sanford presented the background and options, saying the study would aim to improve recruitment, retention and pay equity across county positions. The board reviewed vendor quotes referenced by staff: PayPoint HR (quoted about $52,750), Baker Tilly (about $53,000), and Korn Ferry (approximately $92,000, with an optional salary‑structure product). Sanford described a three‑phase internal plan as an alternative (data gathering, benchmarking and validation) and estimated internal completion would take roughly 400 staff hours.

Commissioners and staff expressed concerns that an internal study could create perceived bias and would pull HR resources away from daily operations; others noted internal work could give more control. Several commissioners and elected officials stressed the need for vendor deliverables to include private‑sector comparators and a labor‑market approach, and asked that elected officials and department heads have structured oversight and input in the process.

On the motion before the board, commissioners authorized HR to seek an external study and directed staff to invite PayPoint and Baker Tilly to submit workshop presentations that articulate methodology, deliverables, timelines and firm references. The board emphasized that any selected vendor must be able to demonstrate how it will meet the countys needs and said a workshop with department heads and elected officials should be scheduled before the final vendor selection. No specific contract award or dollar commitment was made at the meeting.