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Commission debates timing of retroactive CPI and step increases for 2026 pay
Summary
Staff recommended retroactive CPI and step increases effective Jan. 1, 2026, and commissioners discussed whether to make payments immediately or wait for the budget committee to approve the 2026 budget to avoid encumbering funds prematurely.
County staff told the commission that proposed CPI and step increases for 2026 are already included in the draft budget and recommended making them retroactive to Jan. 1 so employees are made whole as soon as the budget is approved. One staff member described the retroactive option as a matter of timing: "whenever it is approved to move forward for the 26 increases...then it will be retro back to January 1st to make employees whole."
Several commissioners voiced concern about committing to payouts before the budget committee reviews the draft and cautioned that approving retros now could create encumbrances the budget committee would later have to address. One commissioner said waiting until the budget committee's early meetings could avoid placing the county in a financial bind, while another proposed seeking a preliminary verbal agreement from the budget committee at its first meeting to allow an earlier payout without an unconditional encumbrance.
Why it matters: Retroactive pay affects payroll accounting and reserve planning and is of direct, immediate interest to county employees. Commissioners sought a balance between making staff whole promptly and protecting the county’s fiscal position if revenue or expense estimates change.
Next steps: Staff will present the increases as part of the joint budget committee process and raise the issue at the budget committee's opening meetings to seek committee input and avoid unilateral encumbrances.
