Commissioners table wage-resolution after commissioners raise concern over 'frozen' pay

County staff presented a draft wage-resolution tied to a two-year step-and-grade market study. Commissioners and staff identified grading errors and expressed concern that the draft resolution, if passed as-is, would leave a significant share of employees with effectively frozen wages.

The chair argued for adjusting the pay matrix and said he would "like to increase the high end of the base deal by 2.9%." Commissioners agreed to hold a working session on Monday to run the CPI adjustment and to examine positions "employee by employee." One commissioner urged forming a small committee to review job descriptions and grades; staff agreed to present updated numbers. The board recommended tabling final action until after the working session and the related budget balancing.

No final pay adjustments were approved at the Aug. 27 meeting; staff said an updated matrix would be provided for the Monday working session and the commissioners agreed to revisit the resolution before approving the budget.