Finance committee recommends Board adopt employee bonus ordinance after state program details

The Halifax County Finance Committee on June 15 voted 2-0 to recommend the Board of Supervisors adopt Ordinance 2026-24 implementing employee bonuses tied to a Commonwealth program.

Margaret Lindsey, interim finance director, told the committee the state bonus package has two components: a 2% bonus for constitutional officers, their staff and other state-supported employees calculated on June salary levels, and a flat $1,500 payment for Department of Social Services employees who meet eligibility requirements. Lindsey said the county must certify employee eligibility and will be reimbursed by the Commonwealth; she estimated “approximately $83,000 in Social Services bonus payments would be returned to the county through the reimbursement process.”

The committee discussed how to treat county-funded employees who are not eligible for state-paid bonuses. Members expressed support for providing comparable compensation for county employees and for matching any broader salary adjustment the Commonwealth approves. Committee Chair D. Witt noted the county has historically followed the Commonwealth’s lead on compensation and urged consideration of parity if the state increases the adjustment beyond 2%.

Committee members also highlighted that Halifax County’s adopted FY27 budget already includes a 2% salary increase for county employees but did not account for the additional state-authorized bonus because program details were not available during budget development. Chair Witt said information about the state bonus had been available in April and questioned why it had not been incorporated into earlier budget discussions; County Administrator Ron Brade acknowledged the concern and said the budgeting process could be improved.

Members raised procedural risks tied to the state budget timetable. Vice Chair R. Smart asked whether state-funded positions would continue to receive compensation if the General Assembly and governor had not completed a state budget by July 1. Brade said county-funded employees would continue to be paid from local revenues but that the county needed legal guidance on how to treat positions funded through state reimbursements; he said staff could temporarily advance local funds if reimbursements were delayed.

After discussion, Vice Chair R. Smart moved and Committee Chair D. Witt seconded a recommendation to the full Board to adopt Ordinance 2026-24 for employee bonuses; the committee approved the motion 2-0. The Board of Supervisors will consider the recommendation at a future meeting.