Board of Supervisors to Consider Salary Increase Proposal

A $1.7 million salary increase proposal for Tulare County’s employees in unrepresented bargaining groups will be brought before the Board of Supervisors for consideration at its June 25 meeting.

The last time similar salary adjustments were granted was December 2008. Of the $1.7 million included in the salary increase proposal, $530,000 would be spent from the General Fund.

There are 540 employees in unrepresented bargaining groups, which include the Board of Supervisors, county elected officials, confidential clerical workers, professionals, mid-management, executive management/department heads, probation management, and assistant department heads.

County Administrative Officer Jean Rousseau said after more than four years of conservative budgeting, Tulare County is able to offer salary increases to bargaining units whose contracts are set to expire this year or who had a reopener to current agreement.

“Tulare County is in this position today because of the conservative measures the Board of Supervisors has taken during the Great Recession,” Rousseau said. “Looking forward, we will continue to take cautious measures when considering salary increases, cost-of-living-adjustments, or equity adjustments.”

If approved on Tuesday, the following employees would receive salary increases:

- The Board of Supervisors would receive a 3 percent increase, effective 60 days after adoption of the annual budget.
- Unrepresented employees would receive a 3 percent increase, effective July 14, 2013.
- Probation Officer-Supervisors would receive a 4 percent increase, effective July 14, 2013 and 4 percent equity adjustment on January 26, 2014.
- County Elected Officials would receive a 3 percent increase, upon adoption of annual budget.
- The positions of Chief Deputy County Counsel, Attorney-Supervisors, Attorney-Supervisor (At Will), Attorney Civil V, and Attorney-Chief Child Support would receive an additional 2 percent equity adjustment effective January 26, 2014.

The proposed increase would be just one of a few agreements reached with different bargaining groups this year.

For example, the following bargaining groups reached agreements on June 11 with the County:

- The Tulare County District Attorney Investigators Association (TCDAIA) employees will receive a 3 percent increase effective July 14, 2013.
- The Government Lawyers Association of Workers (G-LAW) employees will receive a 3 percent salary increase effective August 11, 2013. In addition, Attorney V’s in that group will receive an additional 2 percent salary increase effective January 26, 2014.

Other bargaining units whose contracts expire this year include: Tulare County Corrections Association (TCCA); United Auto Workers (UAW); District Attorney Criminal Investigators Association Tulare County (DACIATC); and Professional Association of Tulare County Physicians (PATCOP). It is anticipated that contract agreements for these bargaining units will be brought to the Board of Supervisors in July.

Bargaining units whose contracts expire next year include: Service Employees International Union (SEIU); Tulare County Professional Firefighters Association (TCPFA); Professional Law Enforcement Managers Association (PLEMA); and the Tulare County Deputy Sheriff’s Association (TCDSA).