Muscoda board explores hiring firm for job analysis and pay study; considers evaluation-cycle change

The Muscoda Village Board discussed plans to update its employee manual and consider a formal compensation study that would review job classifications, recommend pay ranges and suggest a structured step-up pay process.

Board members said the village is considering hiring a firm to perform a comprehensive job analysis and compensation study similar to one conducted by Richland County. The proposed study would examine each village position, recommend starting wages and pay ranges, and propose a structured progression. Trustees also discussed changing the timing of annual employee evaluations from a calendar-year cycle to a fiscal-year cycle (for example, August through July) to align evaluations and budgeting.

Administrator Cinda Johnson was asked to contact Boardman Law for a quote to update the employee manual. Trustee Doudna (staff) will reach out to Richland County to gather information about its job analysis and compensation study.

Why it matters: A formal compensation study and updated employee manual could affect wages, hiring competitiveness and the village’s personnel budget. Aligning evaluation cycles with the fiscal year could help synchronize performance reviews with budgeting.

Next steps: Administrator Johnson will obtain a legal quote for manual updates and Doudna will collect information from Richland County about their study approach; the board did not authorize expenditure for a consultant at the meeting.