Deputy raises grievance over holiday and overtime pay; board refers matter to counsel

Deputy John Patch appeared before the Gage County Board of Supervisors on March 18 to present a formal grievance about how holiday and overtime pay were calculated for a pay period in late 2025. Patch told the board he worked 88.5 hours during the pay period and said 24 of those hours fell under holiday pay; he argued that 4.5 hours of overtime had been handled inconsistently on his pay stub and in payroll calculations.

Patch asked who generated the payroll opinion and requested a written accounting. County staff and board members reviewed the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) contract language cited during the meeting (Article 7, section 3) and payroll worksheets. Staff explained that the payroll system and the FOP contract treat paid holiday leave differently for overtime‑calculation purposes and that some pay categories are tracked separately in the payroll system, which can make consolidated pay stubs appear stacked. Patch said he wanted a written explanation showing calculations and any corrections; he said he would accept an adjustment if appropriate.

After extended review and discussion — during which staff agreed there was confusion in how hours were categorized and one printout showed a typographical or categorization difference — the board voted to refer the grievance and payroll materials to county legal counsel and labor counsel for a written opinion and clarification to be returned to the board. The motion passed 6–0 with one member not voting at the recorded tally.

The board asked staff to produce a clear, written explanation of the payroll calculation and to provide any corrected pay documentation to Deputy Patch if an error is found.