After heated labor negotiation, Placer County sheriff’s deputies to receive double-digit raise

After a lengthy and at times heated labor dispute, Placer County sheriff’s deputies are finally getting a raise after years without a contract.

The Placer County Board of Supervisors this week approved a new memorandum of understanding, giving deputies an immediate 10% raise and another 11% over the next three years.

“The board’s $29 million investment in law enforcement employees over the four-year term of the contract aims to bolster recruitment and retention,” the county said in a news release.

The agreement comes five years after the Placer County Deputy Sheriffs’ Association’s contract with the county expired. Stalled labor negotiations since then have resulted in more than one contentious Board of Supervisors meeting and a lawsuit over Measure F, the voter-approved formula used to set deputy salaries.

At the time, the county said the Measure F formula would have resulted in 18% higher salaries for Placer deputies than comparable jurisdictions, which the county argued was unsustainable wage growth.

The deputies union argued that to do away with Measure F without voters’ consent was in violation of the law and voters’ rights.

In a May 2 ruling, a judge rejected the Deputy Sheriffs’ Association complaint, ruling that Measure F did not need to be repealed by voters. She also said the county had the power to do away with it by negotiating a new labor contract with the deputies.

“I’m so happy that we are where we are,” Supervisor Shanti Landon, who represents the Lincoln area, said in a statement. “We love our deputies and our law enforcement in Placer County and I just want to make sure we continue that culture.”

Board chair Jim Holmes said he was grateful to Deputy Sheriffs’ Association President Travis Thornsberry.

“We have been in this stalemate for quite a while, and we are here today because of you and your staff’s leadership,” Holmes said in a statement. “I want to thank you personally and on behalf of the board for your work getting this done.”

The agreement will remain in effect from Oct. 7 through June 30, 2027.

Some employees will receive an additional 6% wage increase in exchange for reduced peace officer standards and training certificate incentive pays. The contract also includes increased county contributions to employee health care premiums and adds another paid floating holiday.

All active Deputy Sheriffs’ Association members receive a $3,000 retention bonus, the county said.

Earlier this month, the board approved a separate agreement providing a one-time 15.5% wage increase for correctional officers to maintain hiring competitiveness.

This story was originally published September 28, 2023 at 5:00 AM.