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Commissioners debate pay steps, COLA and meeting reimbursements as budget process advances
Summary
An extended budget discussion covered departmental step-and-grade rules, possible 3% COLA, health-insurance cost pressures, and proposals to give commissioners COLA or meeting-based reimbursements to keep pay competitive.
County staff and commissioners spent a long portion of the meeting reviewing the county's step-and-grade placement rules, requests from the court clerk's office to reclassify two staff positions, and whether to add a 3% cost-of-living increase (COLA) across the board. Robin Moss described a request to move two court office employees to higher grade steps, citing workload; she said the office is busy and the employees "deserve to be able to feel valued."
Commissioners debated whether a COLA is the simplest consistent approach for keeping pace with inflation or whether step increases and selective meeting/mileage reimbursements are more appropriate. One commissioner said a 3% COLA this year would amount to about $150 split among the five commissioners, while others warned step increases have retirement and insurance cost consequences and recommended clearer policy guidance and staff-prepared scenarios. The board asked staff to return with budget language and payroll scenarios for the next meeting.
