Wilson County approves grant-limited overtime for exempt sheriff's staff; policy to follow

The Wilson County Commissioners Court on June 8 approved a resolution authorizing exempt (salaried) employees in the sheriff's office to receive overtime pay when the overtime is covered by grant funds.

Sheriff Jim Stewart told the court the change is intended to allow certain supervisory and salaried personnel to participate in grant-funded operations and be compensated from those grant allocations rather than county general funds. "Most of them right now I make them give a time sheet every week," Sheriff Stewart said, describing an administrative practice he will formalize so overtime hours can be tracked and billed to grants.

Commissioners and county staff emphasized safeguards. Court members said overtime must be paid only from available grant funds and not by the county if grant money is exhausted; the sheriff and finance staff agreed to prepare accounting lines and employee acknowledgments. The court directed the sheriff and staff to draft a written policy laying out time-sheet procedures, limits, and payroll coding for review at a future court.

Commissioner Aken moved to approve the resolution as presented, with the understanding overtime will be paid only from grant sources; Commissioner Martin seconded. The motion passed on a voice vote. Court members noted the authority was limited to grant-funded overtime and asked that the next court receive the draft policy and employee forms.

The resolution applies prospectively to grant-covered hours; court discussion recorded that existing overtime budgets for specific grants (OS and 287G were discussed) would be used first and that accounting procedures must show grant payment of wages and related payroll taxes.