An ordinance to be introduced by JP Mark Biram at Monday’s Independence County Quorum Court meeting will establish hazard pay incentives for all current and eligible essential county employees who worked certain time periods during the pandemic in 2020.
Ordinance 2021-23 is written to provide retroactive pay back to Jan. 27, 2020. It will apply to current eligible county government employees who worked during the periods of Jan. 27, 2020, to April 12, 2020, and Aug. 1, 2020, to Dec. 31, 2020. The ordinance says current eligible full-time county employees may receive up to $5,200 in premium pay while current eligible part-time employees may receive up to $2,600 in premium pay.
The funds to support premium pay come from President Joe Biden’s American Rescue Plan which was adopted into law on March 11, 2021. The law provides states, cities, counties, and tribal government funds for the purpose of addressing various adverse impacts of COVID-19 upon each pertinent governmental entity.
Stone County Judge Stacey Avey told White River Now’s Gary Bridgman he has also been working on a premium pay presentation and ordinance that he said he hopes to present to the Stone County Quorum Court at its meeting next Thursday. The ordinance will also provide the funds for premium pay from the American Rescue Plan.
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