Valley County adopts countywide timekeeping, payroll administration policy to implement biweekly pay

Valley County commissioners approved a countywide timekeeping and payroll administration policy on Feb. 17 designed to implement the county's recent switch from monthly to biweekly payroll and to address issues raised in a prior audit.

Director Savoy presented the policy, saying it was developed after moving payroll functions to the county's human resources office and after discussions with several departments most affected by the change. "This is in response to payroll being moved over to the HR office last year, but also the decision by the Commission and the County to move from a monthly to a biweekly payroll process," Savoy said.

Savoy said he met with multiple departments — notably the Sheriff's Office, which he said would be most affected — and incorporated feedback into the draft. He told the commission the policy is intended to address the concerns noted in the audit: "Commissioner, this policy addresses those concerns within that audit," Savoy said when asked whether the audit recommendations were covered.

Commissioner Caldwell moved to approve the timekeeping and payroll administration policy; the motion was seconded and approved by voice vote. The transcript records "aye" responses from commissioners but does not include a roll-call tally by name.

The approved policy will guide county payroll administration under the biweekly schedule; staff indicated the policy had been circulated to elected officials and department heads for review prior to the vote. The meeting record did not specify implementation dates or any required software or system changes.

Clarifying details: the policy was described as developed in consultation with departments and the clerk's office, and as intended to address audit findings; specific audit items, implementation timeline, and any associated costs were not specified in the meeting record.