To: Sonoma County Board of Supervisors
Department or Agency Name(s): Human Resources Department
Staff Name and Phone Number: Jeremia Mills, 707-565-3228
Vote Requirement: Majority
Supervisorial District(s): Countywide
Title:
Title
Memorandum of Understanding between the County of Sonoma and the Sonoma County Law Enforcement Association
End
Recommended Action:
Recommended action
Adopt a Resolution approving the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the County of Sonoma and the Sonoma County Law Enforcement Association (SCLEA) for the period June 15, 2023 through May 1, 2026.
end
Executive Summary:
Representatives of the County and the Sonoma County Deputy Sheriffs Association (SCLEA) met and conferred and reached a Tentative Agreement regarding negotiated changes to the terms and conditions of employment for a successor Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to be effective June 15, 2023, through May 1, 2026, hereinafter referred to as the Tentative Agreement (Attachment A).
The SCLEA membership has voted and ratified the Tentative Agreement.
All changes negotiated for the 2023-2026 successor MOU (Tentative Agreement) must be noticed at a public meeting (Cal Gov’t Code 23026) and becomes effective upon adoption by the Board of Supervisors, unless otherwise specified in the Tentative Agreement. The actuarial valuation of the impacts of salary changes in the Tentative Agreement on the funding status of the Sonoma County Employees Retirement Association (SCERA) are outlined below and in Attachment B (Cal Gov’t Code §7507 and §31515.5).
Discussion:
Representatives of the County and SCLEA met and conferred and reached the Tentative Agreement regarding the terms and conditions of employment, for a three-year term.
The following is a summary of the major provisions negotiated in this agreement:
Term of Successor MOU:
June 15, 2023 - May 1, 2026
Salary - Cost of Living Adjustments (COLA):
During the three-year term, all job classifications covered by this MOU will be provided annual cost-of-living adjustments based upon the following schedule:
• Effective June 13, 2023 - 5% COLA
• Effective May 14, 2024 - 5% COLA
• Effective May 13, 2025 - 3.5% COLA
Salary - Market/Equity Adjustments
Equity adjustments will be made to bring each benchmark job classification to 100% of the comparable agencies market average based upon the County’s 2022 Total Compensation Study as of December 31, 2022. Effective the pay period ending June 12, 2023 and upon Board approval, all recommended adjustments to each benchmark classification and concurrent adjustments to non-benchmark classifications will be consistent with internal salary administration alignments.
Salary - Hourly Cash Allowance:
Effective July 11, 2023, the hourly cash allowance of $3.45 will be rolled into the I-step of the salary scale and scaled backwards for all job classifications covered by the MOU.
Health & Welfare:
The County’s monthly contribution towards medical plan premiums will be based upon the following schedule:
|
Effective Date |
June 13, 2023 |
May 14, 2024 |
May 13, 2025 |
|
Employee Only |
$851/mo. |
$893/mo. |
$938/mo. |
|
Employee + 1 |
$1701/mo. |
$1786/mo. |
$1876/mo. |
|
Employee + 2 or more |
$2405/mo. |
$2525/mo. |
$2652/mo. |
• Discontinues County Health Plan PPO and EPO to new enrollment
Various Economics:
• Makes changes to Overtime Compensation maximum accruals and cash out provisions
• Increases Communication Dispatcher Standby pay to $6.82/hr.
• Creates two distinct time zones for Evening and Nighttime Shift Differentials
• County established a $1.50/hr. premium on all paid status hours for employees in a fluent bilingual assignment
Time Off/Leaves:
• Eliminates 8-hour Floating Holiday, effective January 1, 2024
• Adds qualifying family members for using sick leave and Paid Parental Leave
• Ensures employees properly move to COBRA benefits when on unpaid leaves
Miscellaneous Changes:
• Updates and clarifies various articles/sections
• De-genders contract language consistent with the County’s pillars, goals, and objectives
Classification Study:
• County agrees to evaluate Juvenile Correctional Counselor Series (I-IV)
Government Code Compliance Requirements:
Various provisions of the California Government Code require certain disclosures before the Board can adopt changes in salaries or benefits, with additional disclosures required for changes in pension and other post-employment benefits. Any changes in salaries and benefits must be adopted at a public meeting of the Board (Cal Gov’t Code §23026). Notice of the consideration of such increases must be provided prior to the meeting and shall include “an explanation of the financial impact that the proposed benefit change or salary increase will have on the funding status of the county employees' retirement system.” (Cal Gov’t Code §31515.5).
In addition, when considering changes in retirement benefits or other postemployment benefits, the Board “shall secure the services of an actuary to provide a statement of the actuarial impact upon future annual costs, including normal cost and any additional accrued liability, before authorizing changes in public retirement plan benefits or other postemployment benefits.” (Cal Gov’t Code §7507).
This staff report recommends the Board adopt changes in the SCLEA MOU, including changes to salary and benefits contributions only, with no changes to pension or other post-employment benefits (retiree medical).
Segal Valuation Analysis of Cost of Living (COLA)Adjustments
Based on the analysis conducted by Segal Consulting (Segal), the actuaries for the Sonoma County Employees Retirement Association (SCERA), the net impact over the term of the three-year MOU results is an increase in the County’s annual contributions, as the actuarial assumptions included in prior valuations are not sufficient to cover the costs of all negotiated COLAs over the three-year term.
The analysis compares proposed labor changes to the following Sonoma County Employees’ Retirement Association (SCERA) adopted salary assumptions:
• 3.25 % applied to the December 31, 2020 valuation used to establish employer and employee pension contribution rates for FY 2022-23
• 3.0 % applied to the December 31, 2021 Actuarial Valuation used to establish employer and employee pension contribution rates for FY 2023-24. and was used to illustrate the potential cost impact of salary increase in FY 2024-25 and FY 2025-26
The actuarial assumption variations from year to year offset some annual increases and decreases, resulting in a net increase of $1,618,200 over the three-year term of the MOU. Staff’s review of the average annual increase spread over the current and next three fiscal years is approx. $404,550 which should not materially impact the ongoing cost of the plan or the funding status of SCERA. Segal’s analysis of the annual impact for each of the three years of the MOU are included in Attachment B, and the following table summarizes the annual impact and net overall increased County costs over the four fiscal years:
|
|
Change in Annual Employer Normal Cost |
Change in Annual UAAL* amortized cost |
Total Increased Annual Contribution |
|
|
(a) |
(b) |
(a + b ) |
|
Remaining 2022/23 |
(13,000) $ |
($19,000) |
($32,000) |
|
Year 1 - 2023/24 |
+ $539,000 |
+$751,000 |
+$1,290,000 |
|
Year 2 - 2024/25 |
+ $154,000 |
+$215,000 |
+$369,000 |
|
Year 3 - 2025/26 |
( $3,300) |
(5,500) $ |
( $8,800) |
|
Net Increased Costs over 3-year term |
+ $676,700 |
+ $941,500 |
+ $1,618,200 |
*Unfunded Actuarial Accrued Liability
Strategic Plan:
This item directly supports the County’s Five-year Strategic Plan and is aligned with all the pillars, goals, and objectives.
Racial Equity:
Was this item identified as an opportunity to apply the Racial Equity Toolkit?
No
Prior Board Actions:
July 23, 2019: Adopted SCLEA Successor MOU, Resolution #19-0297
October 9, 2018: Adopted Additional Provisions to SCLEA MOU, Resolution #18-0421
September 25, 2018: Adopted SCLEA MOU Extension, Resolution #18-0403
May 24, 2016: Approved SCLEA MOU, Resolution #16-0212
Fiscal Summary
|
Expenditures |
FY 22-23 Adopted |
FY23-24 Projected |
FY 24-25 Projected |
|
Budgeted Expenses |
$525,156 |
$10,782,490 |
$15,509,477 |
|
Additional Appropriation Requested |
|
|
|
|
Total Expenditures |
$525,156 |
$10,782,490 |
$15,509,477 |
|
Funding Sources |
|
|
|
|
General Fund/WA GF |
$525,156 |
$10,782,490 |
$15,509,477 |
|
State/Federal |
|
|
|
|
Fees/Other |
|
|
|
|
Use of Fund Balance |
|
|
|
|
Contingencies |
|
|
|
|
Total Sources |
$525,156 |
$10,782,490 |
$15,509,477 |
Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
The successor MOU represents a total estimated operational cost increase for FY 2022/23 of $525,156. Current year unanticipated costs are expected to be absorbed within existing appropriations. The CAO staff will work with departments at year-end close should additional appropriations be necessary. The FY 2023/24 recommended budget includes appropriations for anticipated labor costs calculated in fall 2022. Adjustments to individual departmental budget appropriations will be made during consolidated budget adjustments as necessary and future costs for FY 2024-25 will be incorporated into the recommended budget.
|
Staffing Impacts: |
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Position Title (Payroll Classification) |
Monthly Salary Range (A-I Step) |
Additions (Number) |
Deletions (Number) |
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Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impacts (If Required):
Not applicable
Attachments:
1. Resolution
2. Attachment A - Tentative Agreement - Successor MOU
3. Attachment B - Four GC 31515.5 Disclosure Letters from Segal Consulting dated June 9, 2023
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
None.