Human Resources proposes reclassifications; commissioners debate longer-term salary study and set executive session on bargaining

Human Resources presented a set of proposed reclassifications for positions in the commissioners' office and discussed expected budgetary effects.

Jessica Warren of Human Resources said the clerk of the board would move from salary grade 5 90 step 3 to 6 00 step 1 (a slight decrease of roughly 1%), the public records manager would move from 5 55 step 5 to 5 65 step 1 (about a 1% decrease), and an administrative assistant would move to step 2 of salary grade 19 (about a 5% promotion). Warren said the reallocations and cost-allocation shifts would lower the general fund by $52,250 for 2026 and by $93,694 for 2027, including benefits.

Commissioners raised concerns about piecemeal reclassification while other departments have taken on additional duties without the same review. One commissioner urged a countywide review of exempt salary ranges to avoid compounding top-heavy salary schedules; another said the immediate priority was getting the budget numbers in order and that the proposed reclassifications help toward that goal.

Separately, Human Resources requested an executive session for collective bargaining; the board scheduled a 10-minute executive session and extended it five minutes, then returned to open session with "No decisions rendered."

Why it matters: reclassifications and reassignments affect staff pay and departmental budgets and can shift costs between the general fund and other budgets; the discussion raised questions about broader county pay policy and equity across departments.

What happens next: commissioners approved moving forward with the paperwork at this meeting while noting the need for a broader salary study at a later date; HR will implement the immediate reclassifications per staffing and budgeting rules.