| By Neil Johnson, reporter/anchor, Big Radio |

Rock County employees cut short of a full cost-of-living pay increase will get a yearly stipend to make up the difference.

The Rock County Board voted Thursday to give lump-sum payments each year to 40 county employees who’d been in line to get just half the COLA pay increase of other employees.

The county at first capped those employees’ raises — a move called “red circling” — because the workers are paid more now than the top salary allowed under the county’s new, tiered pay system.

County Administrator Josh Smith says employees affected are aware of the new pay-outs.

Smith says once affected employees catch up on earnings they’ve had capped, they’ll no longer get annual pay outs. In 2024, the extra pay outs would cost the county $27,500.

Over five years, the pay outs will cost a total of $65,400.