Based on advice from Island County Prosecutor Greg Banks, the Island County Commissioners have rescinded a resolution that would have provided Island County essential employees bonuses for their “incredible work” during the Covid pandemic.
The problem is that Washington state law and the state constitution does not allow for retroactive premium pay or retroactive bonuses to public employees because of the prohibition on gifts of public funds. For all the details, see the story by Jessie Stensland in the Whidbey News-Times.
