Local government employees in Portage will have to wait until next year to get their last 2021 paychecks.
Portage officials say they can't cover paychecks on Dec. 31 and the money won’t be available until Jan. 3. Portage typically has 26 paydays a year but has 27 this year.
Portage Clerk-Treasurer Nina Rivas said letting employees know sooner would have interrupted work in her office, especially for the payroll clerk. Rivas said the clerk's “phone blows up” when controversies erupt.
Former Mayor John Cannon is offering interest-free loans to city workers until Jan. 4, especially if they need money for automatic deductions from their bank accounts.