GRAYSON CO., TX – Grayson County officials are currently working with the labor department to update the payroll system. County Judge Drue Bynum said the current payroll system is flawed and needs to be fixed. But the changes could mean financial stress for county employees, who said it will be difficult to adjust to a new system.

"Right now we're getting paid on the 15th and the 30th and everybody's check is normally the same, unless you have overtime or comp time that's worked into that,” said Sergeant Rickey Wheeler.

The County's current payroll system is done by averaging about 86 hours for every pay period instead of filling in exact hours worked. Wheeler and other employees said the pro-rated system has been in place for at least the past 15 years.

"90 percent of the time that worked, but there are those occasions when people turn in time that actually was not worked, in some instances maybe I turn in a 40 hour work week and end up having to take a day of vacation or a day of comp time,” said Grayson County Judge Drue Bynum.

So now Bynum and commissioners are working with the labor department and IRS to get on a payroll that's based on exact hours.

Although the amount of money would be the same, instead of getting equal checks throughout the year, employees will get a smaller check month to month and then two extra checks twice a year.

"So theoretically ten months out of the year I would lose $250 a month, and twice a year that would be made up so ten months out of the year I'm going to have to live in a deficit,” said Wheeler.

Bynum said they want to give employees enough time to adjust and plan for the biweekly paychecks. Because everyone is used to getting paid on the same day every month, the changes will mean employees will also have to adjust any other monthly bills they have set up to pay.

"We feel like once we get ahead of the curve then we're actually paying people for what they work, it works out. But there would be that transitional period that is a concern to some folks around here and obviously we want to be very patient with that,” said Bynum.

Commissioners listened to several employees and the payroll department during Monday’s Commissioner’s Court. They didn’t make a decision though, saying they would also like more input from County employees.

One idea they will also consider is adding in sick day incentives for employees and increasing salaries.