Davis County staff propose benefit cuts and freezes in 2026 HR policy update

At a Davis County Commissioners work session on Dec. 9, Deputy Human Resources Director Rick Heavey presented six proposed HR policy updates that staff say are intended to reduce long‑term liabilities and update aging policy language. Key proposals include adding three non‑accruing personal‑preference days, freezing existing sick‑leave balances and phasing out the payout benefit, reducing the employer 401(k) match to 2% with auto‑enroll for new hires, and lowering the top end of the merit increase schedule.

Heavey told commissioners the changes were a mix of budget‑driven reductions and routine updates. "We've proposed three personal preference days per year," he said, describing them as floating holidays that do not carry over. On the proposed sick‑leave change, Heavey explained staff would freeze employees' accrued sick‑leave balances as of the end of the month and transition the payout over time: "Sick leave that people have accrued through…