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Emery County approves one‑time cost‑of‑living payments and amends personnel policies on sick/vacation conversion
Summary
The Emery County Commission authorized one‑time 2025 cost‑of‑living payments (e.g., $3,000 for full‑time staff) and approved policy changes allowing retiring employees to direct unused sick leave into URS accounts under IRC section 415(c) and a limited vacation forfeiture exception for certain retirement dates.
Emery County commissioners approved a series of personnel measures at their Nov. 18 meeting, including a one‑time 2025 cost‑of‑living payment and changes to leave conversion and vacation forfeiture rules.
The approved cost‑of‑living payment provides $3,000 to full‑time employees, $2,250 to three‑quarter‑time employees, $1,500 to part‑time staff and $200 to lifeguards. The resolution passed on a recorded vote of commissioners in favor.
Separately, human resources staff proposed two changes to county policy. The commission approved an effective Dec. 1, 2025 option allowing an eligible retiring employee who retires through the Utah Retirement System (URS) to direct accrued unused eligible sick leave into a one‑time employer non‑elective contribution to their URS account, in line with Internal Revenue Code section 415(c). The second change clarified that unused annual vacation time in excess of 120 hours is forfeited at the first pay period of each calendar year, with an exception that prevents forfeiture for employees whose official URS retirement date falls on Jan. 1 or Jan. 16.
Why it matters: the measures aim to provide immediate relief to employees facing high inflation and to offer additional retirement planning options without direct cost to the county for the sick‑leave conversion option, county staff said.
Quote: Mary Huntington, human resources, summarized the sick‑leave option: “An eligible employee who retires through Utah Retirement System may direct Emery County to make a one‑time employer non‑elective contribution to their URS account using their accrued unused eligible sick leave balance.”
What’s next: the county’s payroll and HR staff will implement the one‑time payments and update policy documents to reflect the approved URS conversion option and vacation carryover rule.
