Sheriff’s deputies get one-time raises in new Sonoma County labor deal

Sonoma County sheriff’s deputies and department managers secured raises, two more days off and more flexible retiree health benefits under new labor agreements approved Tuesday by the Board of Supervisors.

The seven-month contracts provide for one-time, lump-sum payments of $3,666 for more than 200 sheriff’s deputies and $4,392 for a smaller group of sheriff’s lieutenants, captains and assistant sheriff positions. The payments are equal to about 2 percent of salary costs for both groups, according to county personnel officials.

The county also agreed to increase its medical premium contributions for both groups, institute a new paid parental leave program and provide a paid day off for Cesar Chavez Day as well as an additional floating holiday.

Similar benefits were granted to Service Employees International Union Local 1021, the largest union representing county employees, earlier this year.

The contracts approved Tuesday for the Sonoma County Deputy Sheriffs’ Association and the Deputy Sheriff’s Law Enforcement Management unit extend through March. After that, the labor groups are pushing for new multiyear agreements in place.

“All bargaining units want the county to figure out where (it) stands financially after the fires and see how things are panning out, making sure we’re not overburdening the county with additional benefits that could hurt the citizens,” said Mike Vail, president of the deputy sheriffs’ association.

Together, the two unions represent about 235 Sheriff’s Office employees, according to Vail.

Under the new contract, many future Sheriff’s Office retirees will no longer be required to enroll in a medical plan offered by the county in order to get $500 per month toward their health care. The county will instead contribute that amount to a union-managed trust, and retirees can access the benefit even if they move somewhere else.

The benefit only applies to employees hired before 2009.

Supervisor Susan Gorin praised the “novelty” of the two contracts at Tuesday’s board meeting.

“(I) always appreciate creativity, and it may be the wave of the future that all of our units go in that direction,” Gorin said.

When bargaining resumes for the unions next year, Vail indicated sheriff’s deputies will be looking for ongoing pay increases, rather than the one-time lump sums they got this time around. The lump sums do, however, factor in pension calculations.

“There’s a recruiting problem in law enforcement that’s been going on now for many years, and we’re all competing for the same people,” he said. “If we want the best cops and want to keep our staffing full here, we have to offer them competitive wages.”

State law required the Sheriff’s Office contracts to come before supervisors in a public meeting Tuesday because of the changes to retiree benefits, county officials said.

An actuary estimated the proposed changes would decrease by about $69,000 the county’s total liability for benefits including medical coverage and life insurance but excluding pensions.

You can reach Staff Writer J.D. Morris at 707-521-5337 or at jd.morris@pressdemo?crat.com. On Twitter @thejdmorris.