Title
Discussion and Possible Approval of the Revised FY27 Salary Plan with Positions Re-Graded and Possible Approval of Two Additional FTE Positions in the Transit Division
Recommended Action
I move that Council approve the revised FY2027 Salary Plan Job Class Order schedule as shown in Attachment A and I further move that Council approve the addition of two new Full Time Equivalent positions for the Transit Division.
County Manager's Recommendation
The County Manager recommends that Council approve the revised FY2027 Salary Plan Job Class Order as requested.
Body
Atomic City Transit (ACT) is an essential public service connecting Los Alamos and White Rock residents to employment, medical appointments, education, shopping, and other daily necessities. However, the County’s ability to provide reliable and consistent transit service depends on its ability to recruit and retain qualified drivers. The current driver compensation structure must be reevaluated to address significant retention challenges, workforce instability, and the long-term sustainability of the transit system.
One of the strongest indicators that the current compensation structure needs to change is ACT’s driver retention history. Out of the last 103 new hires, only 12% of drivers hired have been retained, which means 88% of newly hired drivers have left their positions. This level of turnover demonstrates a serious workforce stability problem. Although recruitment is important, continually hiring and training replacement drivers without addressing the reasons employees leave is not a sustainable solution. The County must recognize that compensation is a critical component of attracting qualified applicants and encouraging experienced drivers to remain with ACT. When wages and benefits are not competitive with other employment opportunities, the transit system risks losing drivers and repeating the costly cycle of recruitment, onboarding, and training.
This issue extends beyond employee wa...
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