By Matt de Simone
The Botetourt County Board of Supervisors adopted a resolution and ordinance authorizing payment of a bonus to employees of the Botetourt County Department of Social Services (DDS). The board unanimously approved the bonus for Social Services employees following a public hearing on the matter at the May meeting.
According the meeting’s agenda packet, the DSS Board is authorized to provide a bonus, from funds locally available, to the employees of the Department of Social Services, to be distributed as follows:
- Employees with at least 0.5 but not more than f4 years and 364 days longevity with the Botetourt County DSS: $30 each.
- Employees with at least 5 years, but no more than 8 years and 364 days longevity with the Botetourt County DSS: $45 each.
- Employees with at least 9 years, but no more than 12 years and 364 days longevity with the Botetourt County DSS: $60 each.
- Employees with at least 13 years longevity with the Botetourt County DSS: $75 each.
This ordinance is now in effect. When asked by the board on the rationale behind this ordinance, Deputy County Administrator David Moorman shared that he couldn’t speak on the rationale “other than the Commonwealth and the Social Services Board feel like compensation for those social workers is pretty low and just a way for them to encourage, incentivize, and retain employees in those positions.”
Valley District Supervisor Mac Scothorn added, “This is an area of need… In the future, what else can we do? These individuals are really working hard to make everything right with the citizens in our area. A very difficult setting, and so, I definitely am for this… and would like to see other ways we can help out as well.”
Blue Ridge Supervisor Walter Michael thanked legal counsel and noted the difficult process it took to put together the resolution.
Moorman said this is first time this request has come to the county– a one-time approval. The county attorney added that one-time bonuses always require an ordinance. Future requests would require additional resolutions to be passed by the board.
