During a recent government meeting, officials discussed the potential addition of Juneteenth as a recognized holiday for employees, highlighting its significance as both a state and federal holiday. The proposal aims to incorporate this holiday into the existing work calendar for 2025, which would affect various employee groups, including full-time non-shift staff, police, and firefighters.

The budget currently allocates 2,080 hours for full-time non-shift employees, 1,184 hours for police on 12-hour shifts, and 2,912 hours for firefighters working 24-hour shifts. The fire chief indicated that the financial implications of adding Juneteenth would primarily involve straight-time pay, estimated at $2,048, with potential overtime costs of $2,845 if necessary. However, the meeting acknowledged that public safety personnel, including police and fire dispatch, would still be required to work on this holiday, mitigating some productivity concerns.

Discussions also touched on the differences in holiday observance between the city and county, with officials noting that the county may have a more extensive holiday schedule. The conversation underscored the importance of aligning local policies with state and federal standards regarding holiday recognition. The meeting concluded without a definitive decision, but the inclusion of Juneteenth remains a topic of consideration for future employee benefits.