A suggestion that Highlands County workers be given a one-time Christmas bonus has been rejected by the County Commission. But extra money could land in the pockets for workers under a proposal to allow them to exchange accumulated “paid time off” for cash.

Commissioner Don Elwell suggested a policy change consisting of three elements. First, there would be no more designated “vacation time” or “sick time.” Instead, employees would go to a “paid time off” (PTO) program. Any time off — for medical or personal reasons — would be considered the same.