Erie County Council approves 2026 nonbargaining pay plan, authorizes up to 3% raises

At a special meeting Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2025, the Erie County Council approved Ordinance 722025, adopting the 2026 pay plan for nonbargaining employees and authorizing raises of up to 3 percent in 2026.

Council members moved to take the item off the table and then voted on the ordinance after a brief staff explanation. "Every year council adopts the nonbargaining employees pay plan," said Anne, a staff presenter, describing the plan as the council's routine vehicle to mirror changes negotiated for bargaining employees.

Council members were told the ordinance is intended to implement routine, annual adjustments and not to effect wide structural changes. The council was informed that, if passed, the measure would permit up to 3% pay increases for nonbargaining employees in 2026. One member said he had compared the current classification plan to last year’s and noted material classification changes, including several new positions at the county prison, but said he had no objection to the changes as presented.

After a call for the question, the council approved Ordinance 722025 by voice roll call; the clerk recorded the motion as carrying 6 to 0. The meeting concluded with holiday remarks and an adjournment until after Christmas.

The ordinance was introduced as "Ordinance number 722025, approval of 2026 Erie nonbargaining employees pay plan." The vote completes the council’s annual adoption of the pay plan; details on implementation dates and department-level allocations were not specified at the meeting.