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Claiborne County approves up to $2,500 in ARP premium pay for eligible public employees
Summary
The Claiborne County Commission approved allocating up to $506,720.60 in American Rescue Plan Act funds for premium pay to eligible county employees, capped at $2,500 per person and prorated by tenure. The measure passed after an amendment establishing the payment formula.
Claiborne County commissioners on Nov. 15 approved a plan to distribute premium pay to county employees using American Rescue Plan Act funds, capping individual payments at $2,500 and limiting the program to a total allocation of $506,720.60.
The commission adopted Resolution 2021-110 after Commissioner Charlton Vass introduced the measure and Commissioner Nathan Epperson successfully moved an amendment to adopt "Option #1," which sets payments of up to $2,500 per eligible employee and ties the amount to each employee's tenure and continued employment. The amendment passed by roll call, with 18 votes in favor and two commissioners recorded as passing due to conflict; the amended resolution then passed with the same tally.
The resolution identifies eligible groups to include employees of the Claiborne County Sheriff's Department and the Solid Waste Department and adds county offices including the County Clerk, Trustee, Register of Deeds, Assessor of Property, Circuit Court Clerk, General Sessions, Clerk and Master, County Mayor, Election Commission, library, Emergency Management, Finance and Highway departments. Finance Director Sue Tuttle had advised the commission earlier in the meeting that conflict-of-interest statements should be adopted before ARP funds are spent; the commission was asked to consider any suggested edits prior to the December meeting.
Supporters said the payments would compensate workers who performed essential in-person duties during the COVID-19 pandemic. The county finance department told commissioners the amount each worker receives would be based on length of service and continued employment, and that the total payout would not exceed the approved cap.
The commission directed the finance staff to amend the county budget to reflect the appropriation and to implement the payment schedule consistent with the adopted option.
The county did not publish individual payout amounts at the meeting; the resolution directs county staff to finalize payment calculations and procedures.
