About 1400 Sedgwick County employees will receive a pay raise on November 5th.
The Sedgwick County Commission approved the new compensation plan which was a part of the 2024 Budget. Had it not been approved Wednesday, it would have been implemented January 1.
County Manager Tom Stolz said there are a couple of reasons why the county wants to adopt the plan early. One is logistics: getting all of the necessary information into the pay system. The second reason is fairness. When the county gave other county employees a pay raise last year, those plans were also implemented before the end of the year.
Implementing the plan for the remainder of 2023 will cost just over $1 million, paid for with salary savings from unfilled positions within the organization. Stolz says these employees will also receive a three percent raise beginning at the first of the year.
Commissioners also approved a nearly $257 thousand grant from the state to help individuals with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities navigate a behavioral health crisis.
During the 2023 session, the Kansas Legislature allocated $2 million for crisis response statewide.
The county will develop a plan, additional training and funding for providers who serve individuals in need. The grant period ends June 30, 2024.