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County formalizes residency preference and modest pay bump for summer youth interns

Columbia County Board of Supervisors (committee meeting) · February 18, 2026
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Summary

The committee approved program changes requiring driver’s licenses for DPW interns, raising base pay to $17.25 with a $0.50 returnee premium, and prioritizing Columbia County residents for internship slots with supervisor recommendations allowed if county candidates are exhausted.

County staff presented changes to the county’s youth deployment/internship program aimed at improving field support and retention. The committee approved three principal revisions: requiring DPW interns to hold a driver’s license so they can assist crews in the field; keeping a baseline hourly rate of $17.25 while offering a $0.50 increase for returning, trained youth (to $17.75); and formally prioritizing Columbia County residents for program slots with supervisors permitted to recommend out-of-county candidates only when county applicants are exhausted.

Staff said the pay increase is budgeted and intended to encourage returning participants who already have training and experience. They noted past success placing youth through partnerships with local colleges and county programs and emphasized that the change is meant to entice trained interns to return.

A motion to approve the program revisions was moved, seconded and carried by committee voice vote.

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