§ 6-2-101. Exempt pay and benefit plan.
   (a)   Pay grades. The following officers and employees in the exempt service of the County are entitled to compensation at the indicated pay grade:
      Assistant Administrative Officer, County Council   E4
      Administrative Officer, County Council   E5
      Legislative Aide I, County Council   EL1
      Legislative Aide II, County Council   EL3
      Legislative Counsel to the County Council   E6
      Administrative Assistant to the County Auditor   E2
      County Auditor   E8
      Central Services Officer   E7
      Deputy Central Services Officer   E5
      Information Technology Officer   E7
      Controller   E7
      Budget Officer   E8
      Chief of Staff   E8
      Chief Administrative Officer   E10
      Assistant to the Chief Administrative Officer   E5
      Administrative Assistant to the County Executive   E2
      Assistant to the County Executive   E5
      Director of Programming   E8
      Public Information Officer   E5
      Legislative Liaison Officer   E6
      Director, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion   E7
      Resilience Authority Director    E7
      Executive Director, Police Accountability Board    E7
      Secretary, Ethics Commission   EE1
      Executive Director, Ethics Commission   EE2
      County Attorney    E8
      Personnel Officer   E7
      Planning and Zoning Officer   E7
      Deputy Planning and Zoning Officer   E5
      Transit Officer   E6
      Director of Inspections and Permits   E7
      Administrative Hearing Officer   E7
      Superintendent, Detention Center   E8
      Human Services Officer   E7
      Fire Chief   E9
      Assistant Fire Chief   E8
      Fire Chief of Staff   E6
      Chief of Police   E9
      Assistant Chief of Police   E7
      Deputy Police Chief, exempt service   E8
      Police Major   E7
      Police Chief of Staff   E6
      Executive Assistant to the Chief of Police   E2
      Director of Public Works   E8
      Land Use and Environmental Officer   E7
      Director of Recreation and Parks   E7
      Director of Aging and Disabilities   E7
      Deputy Director, Aging and Disabilities   E5
      Criminal Justice Coordinator   E7
      Executive Clerical Aide   EX2
      Executive Office Support Assistant I   EX5
      Executive Office Support Assistant II   EX8
      Executive Secretary I   EX7
      Executive Secretary II   EX8
      Executive Secretary III   EX10
      Executive Office Support Specialist   EX10
      Executive Public Information Assistant   EX11
      Executive Administrative Secretary   EX13
      County Executive Appointment Coordinator   EX15
      Executive Management Assistant I   EX16
      Executive Management Assistant II    EX18
      Administrative Secretary to Department/Agency Head   E1
      Emergency Management Director   E6
      Deputy Emergency Management Director   E3
      Director of Communications & Policy   E7
      Deputy Chief Administrative Officer   E7
      Executive Program Manager   EX18
      Executive Budget & Management Analyst   EX17
   (b)   Annual pay schedule. Beginning the first full pay period on or after July 1, 2023, the annual pay schedule for employees in the exempt service is:
GRADE
MINIMUM
MAXIMUM
GRADE
MINIMUM
MAXIMUM
EL-01
$31,481
$58,482
EL-02
42,882
79,651
EL-03
62,963
116,958
EX-01
28,140
50,554
EX-02
29,561
53,122
EX-03
31,070
55,806
EX-04
32,638
58,630
EX-05
34,290
61,598
EX-06
36,024
64,724
EX-07
37,853
68,001
EX-08
39,768
71,437
EX-09
41,772
75,063
EX-10
43,894
78,865
EX-11
46,119
82,851
EX-12
48,454
87,044
EX-13
50,902
91,447
EX-14
53,480
96,075
EX-15
56,190
100,943
EX-16
60,505
114,210
EX-17
65,158
122,988
EX-18
70,171
132,447
EE-01
41,772
75,063
EE-02
75,569
142,637
E-01
51,237
91,447
E-02
75,569
142,639
E-03
81,380
153,605
E-04
87,634
165,418
E-05
94,374
178,136
E-06
104,175
201,544
E-07
114,989
213,601
E-08
129,941
241,368
E-09
139,035
258,268
E-10
148,769
276,341
 
   (c)   Initial appointments.
      (1)   Except as provided in subsection (c)(2), the appointing authority shall make an appointment to a position in the exempt service at a pay not exceeding the maximum pay for the grade of the position as described in subsection (b).
      (2)   For a period not exceeding one year, the appointing authority may make an initial appointment at a pay not lower than 10% less than the minimum pay for the grade of the position.
      (3)   If the appointing authority does not increase the pay of an individual appointed under subsection (c)(2) to the minimum pay for the grade in the exempt service for the grade of the position within one year of the appointment, the individual automatically is dismissed from the position.
   (d)   Pay increases. The appointing authority may increase the base pay of an employee at intervals no more frequently than once every fiscal year if the employee has been a County employee for at least six months. The amount of the pay increase may not exceed 10% of the pay that the employee is receiving at the time of the increase, and may not exceed the maximum pay for the grade.
   (e)   Out-of-class pay. The appointing authority of an employee under the exempt pay and benefit plan may approve the payment of out-of-class pay to an employee if the employee is assigned temporarily to a position in the exempt pay and benefit plan with a higher pay grade for a period of at least five consecutive workdays. The employee shall be paid at a rate within the pay range for the higher position in the exempt pay and benefit plan that is at least 5% above the employee’s regular pay rate.
   (f)   Limitations on approval for out-of-class pay. The appointing authority may approve the payment of out-of-class pay only if the position to which the employee is assigned is vacant or the employee regularly assigned to the position is absent from duty, and the position is an authorized, budgeted position. The temporary assignment and out-of-class pay may not be used as a substitute for permanent appointment to a position.
   (g)   Personnel Board report on executive pay plan. During the third year of a County Executive’s term of office, the Personnel Board shall review the pay levels in the executive pay plan and report to the County Executive and County Council its findings and recommendations regarding the pay levels.
   (h)   Employment benefits. Employees in the exempt pay and benefit plan are entitled to the employment benefits that are applicable to classified non-represented employees, except that disability leave shall be administered in a manner that meets the minimum requirements of and is consistent with State law.
   (i)   Variable pay award. This subsection applies to all employees in the exempt pay and benefit plan. An appointing authority may make a variable pay award to any employee who makes an extraordinary contribution to the operation of the County office or department or makes a significant singular effort or contribution. A variable pay award may be monetary or non-monetary and does not increase the designated annual base pay of an employee.
   (j)   Performance pay award.
      (1)   This subsection applies to all employees in the exempt pay and benefit plan, including employees who are at or above the maximum pay for their grade.
      (2)   An appointing authority may make a performance pay award to any employee who has in the previous rating period significantly and consistently exceeded expectations.
      (3)   The appointing authority may make an award to an employee at intervals no more frequently than once every fiscal year.
      (4)   The amount of the performance pay award and any pay increases under this section combined may not exceed 10% of the pay that the employee was receiving prior to the time of the award and increase.
      (5)   A performance pay award made under this section does not increase the designated base pay of an employee.
   (k)   Bonus pay. Subject to available appropriations, bonus pay may be paid to employees in the exempt pay and benefit plan as determined by the County Executive.
(1985 Code, Art. 8, § 2-101) (Bill No. 44-86; Bill No. 81-86; Bill No. 32-87; Bill No. 55-87; Bill No. 56-87; Bill No. 39-88; Bill No. 60-88; Bill No. 13-89; Bill No. 33-89; Bill No. 45-89; Bill No. 34-90; Bill No. 4-91; Bill No. 109-91; Bill No. 71-92; Bill No. 49-93; Bill No. 58-93; Bill No. 114-93; Bill No. 13-94; Bill No. 48-94; Bill No. 65-94; Bill No. 4-95; Bill No. 3-96; Bill No. 28-96; Bill No. 44-96; Bill No. 71-96; Bill No. 27-97; Bill No. 65-97; Bill No. 40-99; Bill No. 43-99; Bill No. 45-99; Bill No. 63-99; Bill No. 17-00; Bill No. 20-00; Bill No. 43-00; Bill No. 70-00; Bill No. 2-01; Bill No. 39-01; Bill No. 40-02; Bill No. 52-02; Bill No. 66-02; Bill No. 7-03; Bill No. 67-03; Bill No. 34-04; Bill No. 41-05; Bill No. 42-05; Bill No. 43-06; Bill No. 41-07; Bill No. 32-08; Bill No. 51-08; Bill No. 55-08; Bill No. 57-13; Bill No. 72-13; Bill No. 98-13; Bill No. 35-14; Bill No. 45-15; Bill No. 47-15; Bill No. 65-15; Bill No. 66-15; Bill No. 67-15; Bill No. 45-16; Bill No. 47-16; Bill No. 58-17; Bill No. 62-17; Bill No. 56-18; Bill No. 59-18; Bill No. 60-18; Bill No. 58-19; Bill No. 61-19; Bill No. 70-19; Bill No. 101-20; Bill No. 16-21; Bill No. 45-21; Bill No. 46-21; Bill No. 3-22; Bill No. 24-22; Bill No. 51-22; Bill No. 52-22; Bill No. 44-23; Bill No. 67-23)