Commissioners send county uniform policy back to committee for clarification

The commission reviewed a proposed uniform/work-clothes policy and spent substantial time clarifying when county funds can pay for clothing and who should decide whether a department needs identifying apparel beyond employee ID badges. A staff member (S3) said questions remain about whether department heads or elected officials determine the issuance and whether certain items could create a tax liability under IRS rules if they are not property of the county.

After discussion the court voted to table the policy and asked the policy committee to return with clarified language specifying when county funds may be used for apparel, who makes those determinations at the department level and how items will be treated for tax reporting. No policy change was adopted at the meeting.