Fiscal Court Recap: Allowable "Premium Pay" Discussed For County Employees Through Rescue Act Funds

Darren Doyle, story:
A wage increase called Premium Pay, made possible with funds received by the county from the American Rescue Plan Act, was discussed at today's Edmonson County Fiscal Court meeting, which was held virtually.

What essentially would be more like a bonus but categorized as a temporary pay increase, Premium Pay is one of the government-approved purposes for part of the $2.3 million the county will receive from the federal government in COVID-19 relief funds. The county has already received $1.2 million with the rest coming between May and December of 2022.

County Treasurer Tammi Willhite said all neighboring counties are looking to boost county employee pay through the program, which will allow local governments to increase hourly wages up to $13 more per hour or $25K more per employee; however, most counties are looking to increase workers' pay $1 or $2 more per hour.

In today's meeting, Willhite said all workers employed through offices administered by the fiscal court, including sheriff's deputies and office staff, county clerk staff, judge executive office staff, dispatch, parks and rec, transportation officers, litter abatement, and road department workers would be affected; however, no elected official would qualify for any pay increase through Premium Pay, including magistrates, who would make the vote.

Willhite said if magistrates vote to participate in Premium Pay, county workers would see a benefit in their paychecks (retroactively) from the time period of July 2020 to June of 2021, the height of the pandemic, for all hours worked in-person. Time logged in from anyone working from home would not qualify.

The increase is intended to compensate workers for any time or benefits lost during the pandemic.

Other ways that counties can spend their ARPA money include broadband and water infrastructure, equipment, and other uses, many of which have not been made clear to local governments, Judge Executive Wil Cannon said.

"We don't need to be in a hurry for these decisions. We have to make sure the way we spend this money is allowable by the government, otherwise we have to pay it back," he said.

No vote was taken on incorporating Premium Pay today.

In addition to regular county office reports that were given, magistrates also voted to:

• Approve Resolution EC 21-26, Jaws of Life Agreement with Kyrock Volunteer Fire Department.
• Approve Robin Rigdon’s Notary Bond.
• Approve BGWC October Shelter Directors Report.
• Approve FEMA DR 4595 Public Assistance Grant.
• Schedule Finance Committee Meeting for Fee Officials Budget-December 3rd, 9:00 am.

The next Edmonson County Fiscal Court meeting is scheduled for Monday, December 13, 2021 at 9AM and will be held virtually.