Supervisors hear further discussion on proposed change to payroll system

by Jason Meyer

The Allamakee County Board of Supervisors met in its last regular session of the month Monday, November 30. The meeting was opened with the Board approving the minutes of its November 23 meeting and approving an amended agenda. A single item was struck from the agenda due to Michael Hart of Northland Securities being unable to attend because of adverse weather conditions impacting travel in the area.

PAYROLL DISCUSSION
First order of business was a continued discussion on bringing all County employees on a uniform payroll cycle, as opposed to the system of several different cycles currently utilized throughout various County departments. Questions of the timing and of the reasoning behind the proposed change were raised once again, and Allamakee County Auditor Denise Beyer again asserted the move was for county-wide consistency, accuracy, and for fiscal responsibility, as one uniform cycle throughout all County departments would simplify the payroll process.
As had been noted at previous meetings, some salaried employees of the County are paid 'current'; meaning, for example, their payroll is processed Tuesday for the previous week, as well as that current week, prior to employees even working the remainder of the week, then disbursed that Friday. Also, some hourly employees of the County are paid current on the cycle noted above with any overtime in that period having to appear on the following payroll due to its Tuesday processing. Meanwhile, other salaried and hourly employees are paid on an ‘arrears’ schedule, or paid the week following a two-week payroll period, such as is the practice of many private employers.
With concerns being raised by some employees about having to wait an extra week or more for their pay during the payroll transition process, Beyer’s original proposal to bring all employees of all County departments on to a single, uniform arrears schedule would have seen a portion of those payrolls rolled-back for a set period of time over a multiple payroll timeframe, thus lessening the individual financial impact of the transition. However, the County’s contracted auditing firm had reservations with that drawn-out method, and instead suggested making a one-week adjustment in one payroll period.
This suggestion also drew ire as one employee in the audience noted their household was single-income, and this would have a significant impact on meeting their financial obligations; it was also noted that in at least one instance both incomes in a home would be affected by this change. Beyer noted that she is aware of the personal impacts the change will have, and her personal finances would be affected in that period as well. She also said that as an elected official of the County she has to set aside her personal reservations and do what is in the best interest of the County and her constituents.
Board Chairman Larry Schellhammer asked those in attendance if anyone had an issue with the proposed uniform payroll cycle once the transition had taken place, to which no response was received. He further noted that, from correspondence he had seen, the transition itself is the point of contention; a statement to which no rebuts were made.
Despite the attention given to the matter, the Board took no action on the item as a meeting later that day would return the employee union’s opinion on how the change would affect the union contract.

OTHER BUSINESS
In other business, Allamakee County Engineer Brian Ridenour presented the Board with the resignation of Dale Thomas Fritz, a 32-year employee, effective January 22, 2016; which the Supervisors accepted. Ridenour noted the vacancy will go before the union for a week, at which time if there are no applicants, applications will be opened to the public.
The Allamakee County Board of Supervisors will next meet Monday, December 7, at 9 a.m.