AGENDA DATE: 5/6/2026
TITLE:
Public Hearing for an Ordinance to Amend County Code Chapter 2, Compensation and Sign-on Incentives.
SUBJECT/PROPOSAL/REQUEST: A public hearing to consider an ordinance amendment that would permit the County Executive to authorize sign-on incentives, as warranted by market conditions and critical service needs, as part of employee compensation
ITEM TYPE: Regular Action Item
STAFF CONTACT(S): Richardson, Herrick, Ruege, Shifflett, Rice
PRESENTER (S): Jessica Rice
LEGAL REVIEW: Yes
REVIEWED BY: Jeffrey B. Richardson
BACKGROUND: The Board approved an ordinance in May 2023 that authorizes the County Executive to approve sign-on incentives of up to $5,000 as part an employee’s compensation, as necessary to recruit qualified employees.
STRATEGIC PLAN: Workforce & Customer Service - Recruit and retain engaged public servants who provide quality government services to advance our mission.
DISCUSSION: Staff has proposed revisions to County Code Sec. 2-910 (Attachment A) that remove the $5,000 incentive cap and allows the County Executive, with review from the Director of Human Resources, to approve incentive amounts that are necessary based on operational need and market conditions. This request allows the County to respond, in real time, to volatility in the labor market and provide additional incentive to experienced candidates as needed to fill critical vacancies and sustain services.
BUDGET IMPACT: Funding for sign-on incentives will continue to be sourced from salary lapses created by vacancies. There is no change to the funding allocation required.
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommendation
Staff recommends the Board approve the adoption of the proposed ordinance amendment (Attachment A) following the public hearing, effective beginning May 7, 2026.
ATTACHMENTS:
A - Proposed Ordinance