Personnel committee recommends reclassifying operations manager role, authorizes recruitment with up to $24,000 2026 impact

The Village of Jackson Personnel Committee on Feb. 10 recommended the Village Board approve reclassifying the village’s operations manager position to either a permanent part‑time role or a paid internship and authorized staff to recruit for the role with a net 2026 budget impact not to exceed $24,000.

Committee members approved the recommendation and the recruitment authorization by voice vote after a staff presentation laying out two options: reclassify the departing full‑time operations manager to a 30‑hour‑per‑week permanent part‑time role that would qualify for Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS) coverage and a 50% employer contribution toward health insurance, or hire a paid intern earlier in the year to begin training and potentially convert that person to the role long term.

Administrator Heitke, speaking for staff, described the $24,000 figure as a worst‑case, net estimate that assumes some expenditure savings and additional program revenue generated by the department’s reorganization. "Twenty‑four is what he can't recover in either foregoing expenditures or increasing revenues this year," Heitke said, adding that the number reflects conservative assumptions about benefit uptake and program growth.

Staff told the committee that if the position becomes permanent the 2027 budgetary impact would be higher — about $64,000 when benefits and WRS contributions are included — and that the current proposal aims to provide earlier operational capacity to demonstrate revenue gains before the 2027 budget is finalized.

Trustees questioned whether the village should draw on fund balance to cover the 2026 cost. Staff estimated the department fund balance would be about $110,000 at year end and said the $24,000 worst‑case impact would lower that balance to about $71,000. "We don't currently use [the fund balance] for maintenance," staff said, describing the fund balance as an emergency safety net; a trustee said they would prefer staff to avoid using that reserve if possible.

Staff also flagged other mitigation options, including reallocating hours among part‑time positions, pursuing grants, and increasing programming revenue through the additional recreation supervisor post already approved as an operational decision separate from this reclassification.

The committee voted to recommend both the reclassification/job‑description approvals and the recruitment authorization; both motions carried on unanimous voice votes with no members recorded as opposed. The motions were made and seconded by committee members during the meeting.

Next steps: the committee’s recommendations will go to the Village Board for final action. If the board approves recruitment, staff indicated they would begin recruiting for the permanent part‑time operations manager position, or proceed with an internship hire depending on the board’s direction.