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Monroe County staff present longevity liabilities and step‑increase scenarios
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Summary
County staff told the Long Term Finance Committee there are 433 full‑time employees currently receiving longevity (2026 cost ≈ $394,200 plus ~$30,157 FICA); the committee requested a second‑quarter analysis modeling step increases, freezes and fiscal impacts before changes are considered.
County staff presented a personnel‑cost update on March 31, showing the current fiscal impact of longevity payouts and discussing options for step increases and possible freezes.
Kim Shell, introduced to present the longevity analysis, told the committee the county has 433 full‑time employees eligible for longevity in 2026 and that the total longevity payout for the year is about $394,200 with associated FICA of roughly $30,157. She said 146 full‑time employees are no longer eligible due to a Nov. 1, 2023 cutoff and that 32 of the currently eligible positions are vacant.
Council members discussed several policy levers: adding step levels beyond the current 25‑year maximum, changing the timing between steps (for example, 5‑ and 10‑year steps instead of 8/14), and a temporary freeze on step progression or longevity growth as a fiscal control. Council member Marty Hawk asked staff to model a freeze scenario (hold employees at their current step rather than reducing pay). Staff said a more complete fiscal analysis — including the effect of step increases on FICA and PERF retirement costs — will be ready by second quarter.
The committee did not adopt any personnel changes at the meeting and emphasized a deliberative, data‑driven approach before making policy changes affecting employee compensation.
