COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – The Board of Directors for the Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency approved pay raises for agency employees as well as a new three year contract with Health Officer Rebecca Burns during their monthly meeting on Thursday.
Administrative Services Director Theresa Fisher said in her report that wage growth at the agency has been inconsistent over the last 20 years, which caused their employees to earn less than people similarly employed.
She also pointed out the four percent request was partly due to the state’s minimum wage increasing to $13.73 on January 1, 2026, and to $15 on January 1, 2027.
According to Fisher, while Level 1 positions on the current wage scale meet the 2026 requirement, they fall short of the statutory minimum that will take effect in 2027. The four percent wage increase would allow the agency to remain compliant and avoid a large, one-time adjustment in 2027.
Meanwhile, the new contract for Burns will run through December 31, 2028.
Her compensation, which includes the four percent salary increase for all agency employees, would bring her 2026 salary to just over $122,000.
Burns recommend to the Board that the annual $5,000 merit pay provision be removed from the Health Officer contract.
It was tied to satisfactory performance evaluations but no other agency position received merit-based pay tied to annual reviews.
After some concerns were raised, Burns felt the removal of the merit pay provision would, “promote organizational cohesion and equitable compensation practices.”
All employees, including the Health Officer, would continue to receive annual performance evaluations.
Burns has been the agency’s Health Officer for the last ten years.
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