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Commissioners adopt new overtime policy, align to FLSA 86‑hour standard and require comp time be used before PTO
Summary
After a lengthy discussion of federal tax changes and payroll coding, the court voted 3–1 to follow the Fair Labor Standards Act 86‑hour threshold for overtime and to require employees to use compensatory time before PTO; staff will return with implementation details and separation payout limits.
The Commissioners Court voted 3–1 to revise county overtime policy to align with the Fair Labor Standards Act 14‑day standard (effectively moving overtime threshold to 86 hours for applicable 84‑hour schedules) and to require employees to use compensatory time before taking PTO. The motion, offered by Commissioner Hale and seconded by a court member, carried after extended discussion of administrative and budgetary implications.
Human Resources Director Cynthia Jacobson outlined four options for handling overtime and compensatory time in light of a new temporary federal tax deduction for overtime pay that applies for tax years 2025–2028. Jacobson said the county must segregate the time‑and‑a‑half portion for federal reporting and that some payroll coding changes will be required for the 86‑hour standard.
Jacobson warned that several options impose significant administrative overhead or could increase comp‑time balances, and she recommended staff start systems work promptly if the court chooses Option 4 (follow FLSA). Commissioners debated tradeoffs: some favored adherence to federal standards to reduce future policy churn, while others warned that employees in chronically short‑staffed offices could be forced into work patterns that reduce their PTO availability if comp time must be used first.
Commissioner Hale moved to adopt Option 4 and to require compensatory time be used before PTO; the motion passed 3–1. The court asked HR to return with specific policy language on payout limits upon separation and technical payroll implementation steps. Jacobson said staff will begin required system changes and report back.
