Most Greenwood employees didn’t get raises this year after city officials decided to freeze the budget due to economic uncertainty surrounding the coronavirus pandemic, but many will get one-time payments for performing essential, in-person work.
The Greenwood City Council unanimously approved paying city employees COVID-19 premium pay from funds the city received from the American Rescue Plan Act. The city has set aside $750,000 from the fund to compensate employees, according to city documents.
Eligible active full-time employees who worked from March 1, 2020 to March 1, 2021 will receive $2,000, and part-time employees who worked in-person for at least 500 hours will receive $1,000, said Jared Duncan, deputy controller.
City employees who worked remotely the entire time period are not eligible, according to city documents.
The city received $6,616,647 from the American Rescue Plan Act, which will be split into two payments, said Greg Wright, controller.
The first payment of roughly $3.3 million was received this year, and the second half will be received in June of 2022, Wright said.
City employees, such as first responders, are receiving the payments because they worked in high-risk situations, performing essential work during the pandemic. Essential workers include those who were needed to maintain the safe operation of the city, preserve the city’s critical infrastructure and protect and promote public health, according to city documents.
City officials were concerned about budget shortfalls, Mayor Mark Myers said. The city did not make any cost of living adjustments last year due to COVID-19, so this was the solution, he said.
“It’s well deserved for our employees for coming in every day,” Myers said.
Greenwood Police Department employees remained on the front lines throughout the pandemic. Officers are grateful to Myers and the city council for setting aside some of the federal dollars for premium pay, Police Chief James Ison said.
“We are all very appreciative that they thought of us and that they are doing this for us,” Ison said.
Officers came into work every day, despite a higher risk of contracting the virus or taking it home to their families. The department had more than two-thirds of its 67 officers infected by the virus, he said.
In November, staffing levels had dropped so low due to the virus that the lobby of the Greenwood Justice Center on Surina Way had to be closed for several days to ease staffing needs and slow the spread by limiting who comes inside. The department still continued to provide safety services to the public.
In late November and early December, the entire detective division was out sick at the same time due to COVID-19. One detective was hospitalized and many officers did take the virus home to their families, Ison said.
“Thankfully, we had no deaths, but it was a very trying and stressful time over the last 18 months or so,” he said.
Among the various departments that have essential employees is the city’s street department, which works to keep Greenwood’s roadways clean and safe. The department’s employees are happy about receiving the stipend, said Kenny Duncan, street superintendent.
“(It is) very generous of the mayor and deputy mayor to pass money along,” Duncan said. “Employees are really excited to be receiving it … Working during COVID-19 was challenging.”
The stipends will be paid out Friday, Myers said.
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Who is eligible for premium pay?
Full-time Greenwood city employees who worked from March 1, 2020-March 1, 2021.
Part-time city employees who worked at least 500 hours from March 1, 2020-March 1, 2021.
Who is not eligible for premium pay?
Employees who teleworked from March 1, 2020-March 1, 2021.
How much do they get?
Full-time employees will receive $2,000 and part-time employees will get $1,000.
When will it be paid out?
City employees should receive it this Friday.
Source: City documents; Greenwood Mayor Mark Myers
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