Carroll County board continues review of vacation consolidation and one-time personal days amid payroll schedule changes

County staff presented proposed changes to the employee handbook intended to simplify vacation accrual schedules across nonunion departments and to accommodate a switch to biweekly payroll.

Courtney explained there are multiple vacation accrual tables in the current handbook and recommended a hybrid schedule that would not reduce existing accruals for current employees (grandfathering earlier start dates). The proposed hybrid would, after six months, grant five days, after one year 10 days, after nine years 15 days, and after 15 years 20 days, with additional days added on even years thereafter.

Staff also proposed offering a small number of one-time personal days in fiscal year 2027 to lessen the cash-flow impact on employees as the payroll schedule changes. Amy, who is handling payroll entries, explained that the county's payroll system can accommodate calendar or anniversary accrual options but that payroll needs clear policy language to implement the change.

Supervisors asked for written draft handbook text, departmental input, pro-forma payroll calculations, and clarity on union exceptions (the ambulance union was cited as an excluded employee group). Multiple supervisors said they wanted more time to review documentation and to confer with department heads; the item was placed back on the agenda for further discussion next week.