Etowah County Commission authorizes PTO buyback of up to 60 hours for employees
The Etowah County Commission on Nov. 7 authorized the buyback of up to 60 hours of vacation, sick time, paid time off and/or compensatory time from county employees this month.
Chief Financial Officer Kevin Dollar said the total cost in salaries and benefits would be $200,000 or less, but the sense from commissioners was that it would be difficult to put a price tag on the goodwill the move would build with employees.
Commission President Craig Inzer Jr. called it “a huge deal” for employees who’ve “worked hard and saved their days” to be able to get that money at Christmas.
The commission has authorized similar buybacks in the past when possible, ranging from 20 hours to 80 hours.
Inzer recalled “heated battles” with Dollar in the past, when he chaired the Sheriff’s Office Personnel Board.
“That’s how I cut my teeth here,” he said. “It brings me back to 2010 and 2012, when I used to come over here and try to get buyback money for the sheriff’s office. We’d fight for 20 and walk out with our tails tucked and be mad that we only got 20. Now with no discussion whatsoever we’re getting 60.”
Commissioners postponed action on the proposed closing of Brow Cutoff Road because Jamie Grant, whose district it’s in, wasn’t present.
A public hearing on the issue was held at the start of the meeting. An Etowah County school bus driver opposed vacating the road, saying it would complicate her route including adding some sharp turns. County Engineer Robert Nail said residents in the area had sought the move because drivers are speeding on it.
Several amendments, both increases and decreases, to the Fiscal Year 2024 budget were approved, as were the updated county vehicle and drug and alcohol abuse policies.
This article originally appeared on The Gadsden Times: Etowah County authorizes PTO buyback for employees
