Board narrows sick‑leave eligibility and adds EMS positions to VRS hazardous‑duty plan

County personnel staff presented two employee‑benefit items to the board on Sept. 24.

Sick‑leave bank: Ms. Wells proposed amending the county’s sick‑leave sharing policy to lower the eligibility requirement from 12 consecutive months to six months so newer employees would be eligible to join the leave bank sooner. The remainder of the policy—initial eight‑hour donation requirement, application and subcommittee review process—would remain unchanged. Board members asked about similarities to school policy and the current bank balance; staff said the bank has accumulated a substantial balance and that periodic annual donations have not been required while the bank remained healthy.

VRS hazardous‑duty inclusion: Wells presented a Virginia Retirement System (VRS) study and a drafted resolution to add select EMS positions to Virginia’s hazardous‑duty plan (and to include full‑time firefighters should departments move to that model). The study showed the county contribution rate would change from 12.1% to 12.52%, creating an additional roughly $64,000 in costs for the current year. The board moved and adopted the resolution; staff noted the resolution covers the EMS coordinator and deputy coordinator as hazardous‑duty positions as well as four full‑time EMS employees, for a total of six employees included in the plan if adopted.

Why it matters: the sick‑leave change would allow recently hired employees earlier access to shared leave in emergencies; VRS inclusion increases retirement costs modestly but can offer hazardous‑duty retirement benefits that may aid recruitment and retention for EMS personnel.

Next steps: the board approved the VRS resolution and put the sick‑leave policy amendment before the board for consideration; staff will adjust budget carryovers as needed to reflect the VRS rate change.