DeKalb commissioners decline late change to Christmas-week schedule

DeKalb County commissioners decided Dec. 22 to leave the county's Christmas-week holiday schedule as previously approved rather than adopt a last-minute change that would have given employees the Friday after Christmas off instead of Christmas Eve. Commissioners said the schedule had been approved by the board last year and that many departments and employees had already planned around that calendar.

The issue surfaced when a county department head told the board a late email had proposed changing the holiday from Dec. 24 to Dec. 26, and urged commissioners to reconsider because staff had arranged PTO and operational plans under the earlier decision. The recorder's office told the board it planned to close at noon on Dec. 24 for operational reasons — including bank closing times and vendor/IT support — and that some offices had already scheduled staff coverage.

Commissioners discussed who originated the recommendation and the budgetary and personnel implications of retroactive changes. One official noted that the auditor's office typically presents a suggested holiday schedule for the board to approve, but that HR does not set county holidays. After discussion the board agreed the previously approved schedule would stand and directed staff to send a clarifying memo or email to employees.

The decision means county offices will be open for business on Dec. 24 per the previously published schedule, and department heads retain discretion on whether to require staff to use PTO; any office closures tied to court schedules or specific statutory allowances remain in effect.