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Council approves stipends for group-home house managers, staff says funds come from nonreverting account
Summary
The council approved a $2,000-per-employee stipend for two house managers at group homes, using nonreverting funds; staff explained the stipend approach is intended to avoid creating a new graded position and cited supervision span-of-control reasons.
The council approved an additional appropriation (2026‑28) to provide stipends for house managers at county group homes, with staff explaining the payment will come from the nonreverting fund created by the commissioners.
Norm Lautermilk, introduced during the item, told the council the appropriation is intended to pay two employees a $2,000 stipend each ("So each person is only getting a $2,000 stipend, not a 4,000"), not a permanent change to their grade or step in the salary schedule. Lautermilk said the stipend mechanism was chosen because changing a grade/step would effectively create a new position with additional procedural and classification requirements.
Lautermilk outlined operational reasons for the approach: when the county opened a second group home, supervision load increased and the house managers perform both frontline youth-care duties and supervisory tasks. He said instituting stipends recognizes the additional responsibilities without creating a separate, graded classification.
Council members asked whether commissioners' prior ordinance authorizing the nonreverting fund constrained the council's appropriation authority. Staff clarified the commissioners can set uses for a fund but the council authorizes appropriation and establishes salary and payment details. The council then approved the additional appropriation by roll call (7–0).
Norm thanked the council after the vote; no amendments were made to the item at the meeting.
