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County approves $4,000 flat pay increase for employees, replaces 3% COLA
Summary
Worcester County commissioners voted to adopt a $4,000 flat cost-of-living increase for county employees in FY27, amending a motion on the sheriff's budget and applying the increase across departments; the vote was reported as 6-0 (1 absent).
Worcester County commissioners voted on May 12 to replace the budget's baseline 3% cost-of-living adjustment with a flat $4,000 pay increase for county employees beginning in fiscal 2027.
The change was adopted when Committee member (Speaker 10) moved to approve the Sheriff's Department budget and amended the motion to include the $4,000 flat COLA for all employees. Chair (Speaker 1) called the question; the amendment passed by a recorded voice/show count reported at 6 in favor, 0 opposed, with one commissioner absent.
The commission debated alternative COLA approaches earlier in the session. Budget officer (Speaker 3) had presented the baseline options, confirming that the department-level budgets included a 3% COLA and a single step increase. Several commissioners asked staff for projections of the fiscal impact of a $4,000 flat increase versus the percentage approach; staff said countywide estimates would take additional analysis and provided a rough general-fund increase figure during the session.
Supporters said the flat increase better addresses recruitment and retention and helps bring some roles closer to competing starting salaries in neighboring jurisdictions. Committee member (Speaker 10) said the motion was intended to ensure pay moves employees toward market levels across departments; another commissioner emphasized the need to fund teachers and public safety staff.
Opponents cautioned about long-term planning and the need to incorporate capital replacement and other multi-year costs into rate-setting for enterprise funds. Presenter (Speaker 4) and staff noted the Ocean Pines debt service decrease and other enterprise adjustments that affect fund balance and long-term planning.
What happens next: staff will update department-by-department figures to show the precise budgetary impact of the $4,000 flat COLA and recirculate updated totals in the next budget packet.
Actions recorded at the meeting: a motion to amend the Sheriff's Department approval to include a $4,000 flat COLA for all employees (mover: Committee member (Speaker 10); second: Chair (Speaker 1)); vote recorded as 6-0 with 1 absent.
