Commissioner proposes $5,000 one-time longevity payment; colleagues question sustainability

At the workshop Commissioner Overton proposed a $5,000 one-time longevity payment to eligible employees as an alternative to a recurring cost-of-living adjustment. He framed the move as a way to help employees hit by higher premiums without permanently increasing the county’s salary base.

County payroll staff cautioned that one-time longevity would need to be processed through regular paychecks and could change withholding amounts for employees. “If you give this flat $5,000 longevity in addition, it would have to go in with their biweekly pay rate,” payroll staff said, noting separate checks could substantially increase employees’ tax withholding. Other commissioners worried a one-time bonus would not improve the county’s competitiveness for hiring since outside applicants see only the base salary and grade/step increases.

The court discussed trade-offs — short-term relief for current employees versus long-term market competitiveness and the ongoing budget pressure of recurring raises — and did not adopt a final decision at this session.