Douglas County Announces Budget Hearings for the Fiscal Year 2022-23 Tentative Budget Planning and Adoption
Douglas County Announces Budget Hearings for the Fiscal Year 2022-23 Tentative Budget Planning and Adoption
Staff to Present Recommendations to Increase Pay for County Employees for Organizational Sustainability
Minden, NV –Douglas County announces a budget kickoff session and a series of budget hearings for the Fiscal Year 2022-23 tentative budget planning and adoption. At these meetings, the Board of County Commissioners will discuss the development of the upcoming fiscal year operating and capital budgets. In addition, staff will recommend an immediate 2% cost of living adjustment for all County employees, and a 7% increase in pay effective July 1, 2022, for a total increase of 9%.
Budget Hearing Dates
Budget Kickoff Session: March 28th, 2022 at 10:00 am
Budget Hearings: March 29th-31st, 2022 at 9:00 am
To view meeting materials for each budget session, or watch the budget sessions live visit the following website:
https://douglascountynv.granicus.com/ViewPublisher.php?view_id=1
As part of the budget hearings, the Board will receive an overview of the budget process and critical information they will need to make informed decisions regarding the 2022-23 Fiscal Year Budget. The Board will review and discuss the personnel, operating, equipment, and capital needs of the organization over the course of four days, culminating with the adoption of the tentative budget. Final budget adoption will be scheduled at a regular board meeting in May 2022.
Hiring and retaining quality employees continues to be a challenge for the County, with many departments facing impacts to levels of service including, Emergency Communications, Community Development, Public Works, and Community Services. The budget kickoff session on Monday, March 28th, will include recruitment, retention, and market compensation data which has served as the basis for the recommendations to increase pay. Staff estimates the County’s current rates of compensation will fall 5-15% behind the public sector market in the region by July 1, 2022.
The County currently has 83 vacant positions and is on track to see 20-25% turnover in positions in the current fiscal year. The full report to be presented can be viewed here: https://www.douglascountynv.gov/DCBudget2022_23
“The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports the region is facing labor shortages which are driving wage increases not seen for twenty years,” said Patrick Cates, Douglas County Manager. “Douglas County is falling behind in terms of market compensation and interest in County positions is declining. It is becoming increasingly more difficult to recruit and retain qualified employees for critical positions. These impacts threaten organizational sustainability and have already resulted in the loss of services to citizens. Adjusting compensation to more closely reflect the rates of pay for the public sector market in the region is a critical step forward.”
For questions concerning the hearings call the Douglas County Manager’s Office at (775)782-9821. The public is welcome to attend.
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