When creating a new District Payroll Item to add a new wage, deduction, or benefit, it is vital that you pick the right algorithm to calculate the value of the item for each employee. The calculations can be simple or complex and may be based upon fixed amounts, percentages, or tax regulations.
| Algorithm | Explanation | Wages | Deductions and Benefits |
| Salary | Used for salaried employees who receive a fixed amount each pay period. Enter a yearly amount, which will be divided by the number of pay periods in the pay period group. | x | |
| Hourly | Applies to employees who are paid an hourly wage, or any other per-instance rate (e.g. daily, per bus route, etc.). Payroll is calculated by multiplying hours worked by the employee’s hourly rate. | x | |
| Simple Amount | A fixed dollar amount that is manually entered. Often used for one-time bonuses, reimbursements, and insurance contributions. | x | x |
| Amount Series |
An employee is paid on specific dates, and a different amount can be applied to each date. Often used for coaching stipends that may be paid out once or twice per year. |
x | |
| Substitute Pay | Designed for substitute teachers, who may have different pay structures depending on the position worked each day. The exact rate is determined when entering each instance of work. | x | |
| Simple Percentage | Used specifically for the Medicare (employer) benefit only. | x | |
| Percentage Method Tax Tables |
Refers to tax tables that calculate federal income tax withholdings. Used for the Federal Income Tax withholding item only. |
x | |
| State Income Tax Percentage | Calculator state income tax withholding based on employee’s location. You need a different state income tax item for each state that employees have withholding for. | x | |
| District Percentage |
A fixed percentage rate that is manually entered and based on a subtotal type, e.g. 403(b) contributions may be 10% of Gross Wages. Also used for the FICA (employee) and FICA (employer) items. |
x | |
| TRS | (IL only) Also known as the Teacher Retirement System, contributions are deducted as a fixed percentage of creditable earnings. | x | |
| IMRF | (IL only) Also known as the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund, contributions are deducted as a fixed percentage of creditable earnings. | x | |
| PSRS | (MO only) Also known as the Public School Retirement System, contributions are deducted as a fixed percentage of creditable earnings. | x | |
| PEERS | (MO only) Also known as the Public Education Employee Retirement System, contributions are deducted as a fixed percentage of creditable earnings. | x | |
| Medicare Tax Tables |
Used to calculate Medicate tax deductions based on tax tables. Used for the Medicare (employee) item only. |
x |