Lexington County employees who worked through the COVID-19 pandemic will receive a second round of “premium pay” as authorized users of the State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund (SLFRF).
Lexington County has been allocated $58,028,000 from the SLFRF – a funding program from the federal government to aid state and local governments in their recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. The SLFRF is funded under the American Rescue Plan Act.
Approximately 13% ($7.5 million) of the SLFRF funds have been authorized for premium pay for essential Lexington County employees. Essential employees include any county employee whose work involves regular in-person interactions or regular handling of items handled by others.
Lexington County employees received the first round of premium pay in November 2021. At that time, the county divided the premium pay into tiers based on a combination of an employee’s direct risk of exposure to COVID-19, their duties and the number of pay periods worked between Jan. 27, 2020, and March 21, 2021. The amount of first-round premium pay ranged from approximately $1,600 to $5,700.
For the second round of premium pay, the date range has changed, but the criteria remain the same. The second round of premium payments will be divided into tiers again based on a combination of an employee’s direct risk of exposure to COVID-19 and their duties. This time, the pay will be based on the number of pay periods worked between March 21, 2021, and March 20, 2022. The amount of the second round premium pay will range from approximately $2,015 to $4,940.
“On behalf of the Lexington County Council, I would like to thank all of our county employees for their continued efforts to provide high-quality service to the people of Lexington County during the COVID-19 pandemic,” Council Chairman Scott Whetstone said. “This second round of premium pay is meant to acknowledge those continued efforts as the effects of the pandemic were still being felt into the early months of 2022. We cannot thank our employees enough for all of their hard work and dedication during such a trying time, but thanks to the State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund, we are able to support them and show our gratitude through this premium payment plan.” 
“I would like to thank our Council and Administration for continuing to support our employees that stood strong during the pandemic,” Sheriff Jay Koon said. “They serve our community with passion and dedication, and this payment will go a long way to show them how much they are appreciated.”
Premium pay is one of seven expenditure categories authorized under the SLFRF. For more information about the SLFRF and the Lexington Recovery Plan, go to the Lexington County website at www.lex-co.sc.gov.