KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) – The Kalamazoo County Board of Commissioners has given initial approval for up to $7,500 in bonus payments to county employees who worked during the pandemic, so called “essential workers”.
A final vote on the proposal will come at their meeting May 4. Funding is coming from the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 funds.
The new bonus will be in addition to the $1000 bonuses approved for that group of workers by the county board last month.
The bonuses will go to sheriff’s deputies, juvenile home workers, health department workers, and any others who kept offices open, or worked to clean and sanitize buildings.
County Finance Director Amanda Morse says who will be eligible.
The total cost of the bonuses will come to $9.3 million, which is about 18% of the relief dollars the county will receive.
Morse says federal ARPA rules allow them to offer up to $25,000 to essential staff, at a total cost of $28 million, which is far more than the Board of Commissioners was willing to spend.
Morse says they have received a few applications from other governmental units and private entities to offer essential worker bonuses, but there will be stiff competition for remaining ARPA dollars.
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