Bonner County adopts comprehensive revision to employee classification policy

The Bonner County Board of County Commissioners on Jan. 6 approved a comprehensive revision to the county personnel policy manual (Policy 500) that updates employee-classification definitions and internal categories used to determine benefits eligibility.

Human Resources staff explained the existing policy "is not well written or organized and fails to provide basic definitions and guidance" and said the rewrite aligns county language with the Fair Labor Standards Act and relevant Idaho statutes. The presenter said the revision follows multiple public workshops, review by the county prosecutor’s office for sections affecting that office, and a final review with Nate Adams on Dec. 22 before bringing the draft to the board.

The revision clarifies two separate classification "buckets": one based on hours worked per week (the presenter cited the federal Affordable Care Act threshold of 30 hours to distinguish full-time from part-time) and another that defines internal categories such as "regular," seasonal and temporary status. The presenter said the county defines a "regular" employee as one paid in 26 pay periods per year to ensure correct PERSI benefit treatment.

Commissioners discussed the need for clearer language to address unique situations in offices such as the prosecutor’s and sheriff’s offices. After discussion, a motion to approve the comprehensive revision of Policy 500 was made and passed by vote.

The board did not identify additional changes in open session; staff said further implementation steps and any department-specific clarifications will proceed through established administrative channels.