KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) – Over 400 Kalamazoo County employees who were considered essential personnel during the pandemic will get $1,000 bonuses immediately, and could get more next month.
The unexpected decision came after the Kalamazoo County Board of Commissioners Tuesday night heard from embattled juvenile home workers, who told the board their pay is low, the stress level is high, and the pandemic made it all much worse.
County staff have been trying to certify which employees meet the federal definition of essential worker, and how many hours they worked before recommending the bonuses.
Interim County Administrator Jim Rutherford:
But commissioners like Fran Bruder Melgar and Jen Strebs said they have delayed the “hero pay” long enough:
The immediate bonuses passed on a split vote.
Commissioners had been talking about handing out up to $7,500 in bonuses. That is still on the agenda for next month.
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