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Richland County adopts new wage scale to place all employees on one pay structure
Summary
The Richland County Board approved Resolution 24-101 adopting a unified county wage scale effective with the first payroll of 2025; officials said budgeted funds will cover initial placements and a 3% cost-of-living adjustment was built into the plan.
The Richland County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday approved Resolution 24-101 to implement a new countywide wage scale, a change officials said will place all part-time and full-time county employees on a single, market-aligned pay structure effective with the first payroll of 2025.
County Administrator (speaker 7) told the board the budget included $804,064.98 set aside during this year’s budget process and that the consultant’s recommendation and initial placements totalled about $744,084, leaving funds for minor appeals and adjustments. "We will be able to put all part time and full time employees on the new wage scale," the administrator said.
The administrator and staff said the plan includes a built-in 3% cost-of-living adjustment and that initial placement, not automatic step increases, will determine each employee’s pay this year. "We will not be able to give a step increase this year with the initial placement," the administrator said, adding that grading and step increases, and a further COLA, would be considered in the 2026 budget cycle.
Board members asked how placement decisions would be handled and whether every employee would see a raise. The administrator replied that everyone would receive an increase through placement adjustments or the built-in COLA, but the size of the change will vary: "Some people will see about 5%, others will see more or less depending on how underpaid they were previously." The board also heard that certain seasonal and intermittent positions (for example, lifeguards) are covered on lower grades appropriate to their roles.
After questions and brief discussion, a motion by Supervisor Williamson, second by Supervisor Frank, carried on a voice vote and the resolution was adopted.
The board instructed department heads to review placements and submit any final concerns through the appeal process before the placement notices are issued. The administrator said staff would finalize placements and communicate them to employees after verification to avoid surprises.
What’s next: the wage scale takes effect with the first 2025 payroll; department heads will continue reviewing placements and the board will address longer-term step increases and COLA decisions during the 2026 budget process.
