Georgetown, Del., Dec. 1, 2009: Sussex County Council is spreading a little holiday cheer to its nearly 500 employees.

Sussex County employees to receive $300 bonus after year of reductions, sacrifices

County Council, at its Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2009, meeting, approved a one-time $300 bonus for all full-time County employees as a ‘thank you’ for their efforts during the past year, a year in which pay raises were suspended, overtime was reduced, and health insurance increases forced workers to share in those additional costs.

Council approved the $300 bonus for each full-time employee to take effect immediately. Employees will see the extra dollars in their next paycheck in mid-December.

For Fiscal 2010, the County’s budget is 16 percent lower than the previous year, though all services provided to the public remain intact. In that time, positions left vacant by retirements and attrition have remained unfilled while staff has been cross-trained to take on other duties.

The bonuses will cost an additional $166,000 in payroll this budget year, but County Administrator David B. Baker said better-than-expected revenue generated in the first quarter that ended Sept. 30 will allow for Council to grant the one-time bonuses.

“The employees have done the heavy lifting to accomplish these savings, and they deserve a portion of the reward,” County Council President Vance C. Phillips said. “Ultimately, the taxpayers of Sussex County are the winners of our employees’ dedication and sacrifice.”

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