WALTERS - Cotton County employees will see a 6% cost of living adjustment in their paychecks next month.
The Board of Cotton County Commissioners voted Monday to extend the 6% COLA to employees who are paid out of the county’s highway unrestricted fund as well as employees who are paid out of the general fund, County Clerk Joe Schappert said in an email. The increase will be reflected in county employees’ paychecks for October.
The employees who are paid out of the county’s highway fund include all barn employees in Districts 1, 2 and 3; the three commissioners; and one executive assistant to the commissioners.
The cost of living index has risen by 6% over the past two years since county employees last received a pay increase, Schappert said. He said the county did not have the money available to provide employees with a COLA last year, but the increase was built into the county’s budget for fiscal year 2027.
The commission and the Cotton County Excise Board approved the spending plan for FY ‘27 on Sept. 2, and the COLA will take place Oct. 1.
“The Commissioners intended to provide the Highway employees with the same COLA,” Schappert said. “Therefore, they approved the 6% COLA effective the same date, 10/1/26, for all highway employees so that all county employees receive the same COLA at the same time.”
He said the county’s elected officials will not receive the COLA until they begin their next term, which varies by office.