KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) – Essential Kalamazoo County employees who continued to work during the pandemic will be getting some of the largest pandemic bonus checks paid out by any county in the state so far.
Only Genesee County comes close, paying their frontline workers up to $7500 each.
Last night the Kalamazoo County Board of Commissioners finalized an identical sum, but that’s on top of a $1,000 bonus they approved earlier this year.
Supporters of the measure on the board say the workers who risked getting the virus by dealing with the public, giving vaccinations and sanitizing buildings earned it.
But Commissioner Dale Shugars voted no, saying that paying some and not others may come back to bite them later on.
Commissioners and elected officials in Shiawassee County are being criticized for giving themselves large bonuses, as much as $25,000, while only giving their essential workers a few thousand.
Kalamazoo County’s elected officials have all declined to accept any of the bonus money, which is coming from the American Relief Plan.
Comments