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All Prince William County employees will receive one-time bonuses ranging from $250 to $1,000.
During its meeting Tuesday, the Board of County Supervisors voted 6-1 with one abstention to use about $5.3 million to pay for the bonuses.
Supervisor Pete Candland, R-Gainesville, voted against the measure, and Supervisor Yesli Vega. R-Coles, abstained.
The vote was to appropriate $12.5 million in total revenue from the state, with about $5.3 million for the county and about $7.1 million going to the school division. The school division鈥檚 portion will go into its operating fund.
The money was essentially a surplus after the county budgeted to cover the revenue shortfall with the expectation that Virginia would eliminate the 1% sales tax on groceries that goes to local governments. The General Assembly deferred a decision on the grocery tax until next year.
The county鈥檚 approximately 4,347 full-time employees will receive a $1,000 bonus. The roughly 347 part-time employees will receive $500. All seasonal, temporary and provisional employees, about 1,454 people, would receive $250 each.
鈥淭his gives us an opportunity to again recognize the hard work staff is doing out there in the community,鈥� said Interim County Executive Elijah Johnson.
Candland opposed the measure, saying the county shouldn鈥檛 immediately allocate the revenue while inflation remains a problem. He said at some point the government needs to say 鈥渘o more handouts鈥� and 鈥渘o more distribution of wealth from one group to another.鈥�
鈥淚 think it鈥檚 premature to take this money and immediately turn around and spend it,鈥� he said.
Board Chair Ann Wheeler, D-At-Large, said it was more 鈥渇iscally responsible鈥� to give employees a bonus rather than a pay raise because the latter would increase costs moving forward.
Supervisor Jeanine Lawson, R-Brentsville, said the bonuses would show a measure of support to public safety.
鈥淚 think we definitely need to send a message to our county employees, especially our public safety, that we value you,鈥� she said.
