WASHINGTON CO. COMMISSIONERS APPROVE $1.17 MILLION IN PAY STEP INCREASES FOR PUBLIC SAFETY EMPLOYEES

  

Washington County Commissioners on Tuesday adopted pay step plans for public safety employees for the next fiscal year, bumping up pay and adjusting the payment structure.

The new plans, which go into effect on January 3^rd and apply to the sheriff’s office, jail, EMS and Washington County 911, represent an investment of $1.17 million and are part of the $2.1 million in countywide pay increases authorized as part of the newly adopted Fiscal Year 2027 budget.

Human Resources Director Amber Skalka said the plans were driven by data gathered from a compensation study conducted by the county along with Public Sector Personnel Consultants, which evaluated job positions and surveyed them against the market and against regional competitors. 

According to Skalka, while a total of 141 positions across the county were classified as part of the study, a major reason for focusing on the four aforementioned agencies was the county’s compensation model that developed after COVID, which saw numerous public safety entities struggle to recruit and retain employees. 

Skalka said the county’s move to incentive pay programs, like overtime differential pay and temporary assignment pay, were beneficial at the time but have contributed to a complicated compensation model.  She said these changes aim to streamline the pay plan to focus more on the employees’ skills, certifications and experience, while also offering a clearer and more predictable career path for employees looking to progress.

Of the $1.17 million accounted for in the pay step plans, approximately $504,153 is allotted towards the sheriff’s office, $326,475 for the jail, $195,983 for EMS and $145,444 for Washington County 911.

Commissioner Candice Bullock called the compensation study “holistic”, saying that this one, unlike previous salary surveys, was able to “go through every single job” after job descriptions were updated to “fully reflect the scale and scope of each position.”  Commissioner Dustin Majewski said a common theme during recent budget cycles has been trying to figure out how to make it easier for potential public safety hires to see what they will make locally in comparison to outside agencies or departments, since recruiting has been made tougher with having to explain the various incentives.  Bullock said this change “takes out the guesswork”.

In other employee-related items, commissioners approved renewal of the Texas County & District Retirement System plan agreement for the 2027 plan year, effective January 1^st, and the continued offering of the County Choice Silver Medical Program to eligible Washington County retirees.

Click here to view the agenda packet for Tuesday's meeting.