New Jobs and Raises Ahead for County Employees

On June 21, Churchill County Commissioners reviewed and approved various previously proposed departmental changes. The updates include several job reclassifications and the creation of new positions based on recommendations made throughout the FY2024 budget process.

The largest pay increase across all departments is for County Manager Jim Barbee. Commissioners approved a merit increase for Barbee in May and an additional increase based on the recent Public Sector/Local Area Compensation Study. The resulting gain moves Barbee from Grade 92, Step 10 to Grade 96, Step 13, effective July 10. As reported by The Fallon Post on May 26, the Churchill County Grade and Step Pay Plan for Fiscal Year 22-23 for Barbee was $179,504 annually. The FY2024 amount for his position is $219,835 annually, along with a car allowance of $7,200.

Other departments will see changes in staffing structure, which also include step reclassifications and the addition of new positions. County Commissioners approved the following:

• Cemetery - Reclassifying a Cemetery Maintenance Worker position to Senior Cemetery Maintenance Worker and assigned pay Grade 41, effective October 29.
• Cemetery - Increase pay range for Cemetery Coordinator to Grade 48 (from Grade 46), effective October 10.
• Clerk/Treasurer - Reclassify a Deputy Clerk/Treasurer position to Senior Deputy Clerk/Treasurer and assign Grade 43 effective July 10.
• Clerk/Treasurer - Add a full-time, regular Deputy Clerk/Treasurer position for the department, with a posting for the position to begin on October 1.
• Comptroller's Office - Reclassify an Accountant I position to Accountant II, effective March 8, 2024.
• Comptroller's Office - Add a full-time, regular Accounting Specialist position for the department, with a posting for the position to begin on October 1.
• Court Services - $8,620 to cover additional overtime and standby pay for weekend court requirements.
• District Attorney - Reclassify a District Attorney I position to District Attorney II, effective July 16.
• District Attorney - $3,500 to cover additional standby pay for weekend court requirements.
• District Court - Reclassify a District Court Clerk position to Court Systems Administrator, effective November 2.
• District Court - Reclassify a District Court Clerk Trainee position to District Court Clerk, effective April 4, 2024.
• Human Resources - Add a Human Resources Specialist position, effective July 10, with 50% of the salary grant-funded.
• Justice Court - Add a full-time Court Clerk Trainee position, effective July 10.
• Juvenile Detention - Add a full-time Detention Specialist position, with a posting for the position to begin on October 1.
• Parks and Recreation (Administration) - Add full-time Event and Marketing Coordinator position, assigning it to Grade 39, with posting for the position to begin on September 1.
• Parks and Recreation (Recreation-Athletics) - $49,760 for additional part-time staff for the CARE after-school program. (The number of staff hired will depend on the staffing needs and hours of availability of the hired staff). Posting for additional Camp Counselors and/or Recreation Leaders to start on August 1.
• Parks and Recreation (Fairgrounds) - Add a full-time Custodian position, effective July 10.
• Parks and Recreation (Civic Center) - Add a full-time Parks Maintenance Worker position, effective July 10.
• Parks and Recreation (Civic Center) - Two-step increase (in addition to the employee's annual step increase) for the Fairgrounds Operations Deputy, effective October 26.
• Planning/Public Works - Retain the part-time, casual Office Intern position for another year, ending June 30, 2024.
• Planning/Public Works - Approval of a new full-time Planning Technician position and assigning it to Grade 47, with posting for the position to begin on September 1.
• Road Department - Add full-time Fleet Services Mechanic position, effective July 10.
• Road Department - Reclassify a current Fleet Services Mechanic position to a Lead Fleet Services Mechanic, effective July 10, and assign the Lead Fleet Services Mechanic position to Grade 56.
• Life Center - Add full-time Transportation Specialist position, effective July 10.
• Social Services (Department 424 - Operations) - Add full-time Office Specialist position, effective July 10.

According to Churchill County Human Resources Director Geoff Stark, positions may be filled before the projected date if qualified applicants are available. All efforts to streamline the hiring process will be made.