Board adopts ordinance to deliver state‑mandated one‑time 1.5% employee payment

The New Kent County Board of Supervisors on July 14 adopted ordinance O‑14‑25 to authorize county payment of a one‑time 1.5% bonus for eligible employees under the fiscal year 2025 state budget.

County Administrator Ken Hathaway said the state created a certification process tied to the payment and that adopting a local ordinance and conducting a public hearing are prerequisites to receive the state funds. Hathaway told the board the increase applies to the five constitutional officers and their comp‑board funded positions (treasurer, commissioner of revenue, sheriff, clerk of circuit court, commonwealth’s attorney) and covers social services employees and registrars’ staff as specified by state guidance.

Hathaway said the county intends to pay the increase to the entire staffs of affected offices rather than only the comp‑board funded positions, and that the cost had been included in the proposed FY26 budget. He said the state requires the calculation to be based on each comp‑board employee’s salary as of July 1 before other increases.

No members of the public signed up to comment on the hearing. Supervisor (Miss) Stewart moved the ordinance’s adoption; the motion passed on a roll‑call vote.