County workers likely to get year-end bonuses

The Columbia County Quorum Court Finance Committee talks year-end bonuses for county employees at a Nov. 12 meeting at the Columbia County Courthouse in Magnolia.
The Columbia County Quorum Court Finance Committee talks year-end bonuses for county employees at a Nov. 12 meeting at the Columbia County Courthouse in Magnolia.

The Columbia County Quorum Court Finance Committee unofficially voted this week to issue year-end bonuses to all county employees. Now, full-time workers are in track to get a $200 payment, while part-timers will be likely be given $100.

The governing body had the choice of either issue the one-time bonuses this year or they could have approved a 1% pay raise for county staff in 2020. But since such a small raise would likely barely affect county workers’ salaries, and could possibly hinder already razor thin department budgets next year, the Court elected to issue the year-end sum instead. The funds will be budgeted out of each county department’s budget.

Everyone employed by the county will receive the benefit except the Quorum Court itself. The board was not included in the bonus talks and elected not to give itself a raise or a year-end payment. Justices of the Peace are currently paid $300 a month on a “per-diem” basis for attending meetings, according to JP Steve Lee.

The approval vote for the bonuses was only informal this week and still needs to be passed officially as part of a budget measure at the next Columbia County Quorum Court meeting tentatively scheduled for Nov. 18. But with the measure already unanimously approved by the Finance Committee -- which is made up of all Quorum Court members -- the resolution is on track to pass Monday night.

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