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Johnson County approves annual buy‑down of accrued comp time to 24 hours for employees
Summary
The commissioners adopted a revised compensatory‑time policy that lets eligible employees bank time but requires the county to buy down balances to a 24‑hour cap at fiscal‑year end; the measure passed 4–1.
Johnson County Commissioners Court on April 13 approved an amendment to the county’s overtime compensatory‑time policy that lets non‑precinct, nonexempt employees accrue comp time (with time‑and‑one‑half applied at accrual) and directs the county to buy down employee comp‑time balances to a 24‑hour cap at the end of each fiscal year.
Human Resources staff proposed the change to make administration simpler for small offices that cannot free up staff to use large leave balances. Under the adopted policy, precinct employees can have a temporary, commissioner‑approved carry allowance (up to 30 hours in special circumstances), but the general rule requires a county purchase of excess comp time down to 24 hours at the fiscal‑year cutoff (Sept. 30).
County staff explained that a complete system‑wide buyout to zero would have a higher up‑front cost; the 24‑hour cap was adopted as a compromise to recognize employees’ earned time while limiting ongoing liability. Commissioners discussed impacts on small offices, retention incentives, and budgetary treatment of any one‑time buy‑down. The motion to approve the policy was adopted with a 4–1 vote; one commissioner objected to the buy‑down approach.
Implementation notes: HR will work with department heads and elected officials to identify eligible employees, verify balances, and schedule buy‑down payments for the end of the fiscal year; the county will cover payouts from departmental personnel lines and will monitor budget impacts when setting the next fiscal year’s personnel budgets.
