Rocky Mount to add revised longevity pay policy to next agenda; staff says new plan would cost $336,000 for current eligibles

City Manager Daniels presented a proposed longevity pay policy to the Rocky Mount City Council and the council voiced assent to add the proposal to the next agenda for formal consideration.

Daniels said the new policy would replace the prior longevity policy and recognize full‑time employees after five consecutive years of service with a capped lump‑sum payment rather than a percentage of annual compensation. "This will replace the prior longevity policy," Daniels said, and staff proposed moving from a percentage basis to a fixed cap to make costs easier to budget.

Under the proposal, Daniels said roughly 226 employees who would have been eligible under the former policy would receive payments this calendar year if council approves adding the item to the agenda and subsequently votes to adopt the new policy. He provided estimated fiscal impacts: approximately $336,000 to implement for current eligibles this year and an estimated $500,000 if the program opens to all qualifying employees next fiscal year. Daniels said implementing the new approach for the current eligible group would represent about $890,000 in savings this year compared with the old policy's projected cost.

Council members asked whether payroll processing was ready and whether payouts could be made this year. Staff responded payroll information has been sent and, if council approves the agenda addition and the council later votes to adopt the policy, payouts would be processed before the end of the calendar year, subject to budget availability.

The council moved to add the revised longevity policy to the agenda and recorded assent verbally; the transcript records vocal "Aye" votes rather than a roll call. Manager Daniels said he would verify whether any approval authority limits would require the item to return to council and would bring the formal ordinance or administrative policy back as required.