Morrow County commissioners approve pay-range moves, multiple fund transfers as staff warn of reporting strain

Morrow County commissioners on Oct. 7 approved a package of administrative actions that included pay-range increases for a Job and Family Services supervisor and three fiscal or administrative positions, several interfund transfers and routine bill payments.

The board voted unanimously to adopt the Morrow County Job and Family Services compensation adjustments after staff described personnel pressures and a plan to make the eligibility-referral supervisor’s new pay rate effective immediately to allow overlap and training ahead of a planned retirement in March. A county staff member said the single-step increase for that supervisor raises the top of the range by about $0.89 per hour; the combined cost of moving three fiscal/administrative positions up one pay range was given as $8,091.

County staff also presented accounting adjustments for the recycling fund, saying earlier payments had overstated fringe-benefit charges and about $15,000 needed reallocation to align budget accounts. Commissioners approved appropriations and transfers recommended by the engineer’s office, including payment of bills numbered 1–104 and transfers to a sewer fund and recycling fund on unanimous roll calls.

Why it matters: Staff said the payroll and fiscal adjustments are meant to address high turnover and recruiting challenges in finance and program areas, and to keep the county competitive in local labor markets. Staff warned that incomplete transit invoicing could have funding consequences: "We're not completed by the thirtieth. We'll lose points on our scoring for future funding," an unidentified staff member said, referring to ODOT reporting deadlines.

Commissioners and staff discussed recruitment hurdles, including limited local QuickBooks expertise and the county’s plan to use an Excel-based workbook developed with help from Knox County to meet reporting requirements. Staff said the adjustments are intended to retain experienced employees who handle difficult, high-contact duties across cash, Medicaid, food assistance and call-center operations.

The board recorded roll-call approval of the compensation plan and related transfers. Other routine items on the agenda — including approval of minutes from Oct. 2 and payment of bills recommended by the engineer’s office — were approved by unanimous votes.

The most recent procedural step is the board’s formal approval of the compensation plan; staff will implement the pay changes and follow standard payroll procedures for effective dates and notices.