Sutter County supervisors OK labor pact with law enforcement

Nov. 27--No salary increase and a change in the payment arrangement for health insurance were the key takeaways from a new labor agreement between Sutter County and its law enforcement unit.

The agreement was hailed on Tuesday by Sutter County supervisors, who commended the 119 employees of the law enforcement unit with being amenable to the county's fiscal challenges, brought on by a glacial economic recovery.

"Law enforcement has stepped up," said Jim Whiteaker, Board of Supervisors chairman. "We haven't come out of the recession yet, and they recognize that. I don't think we're jeopardizing any of our safety units, and it's a cost savings for Sutter County."

The provisions of the agreement, all told, will yield $33,000 in savings in 2014 for the county.

Part of that savings comes from a return to the 80-20 payment arrangement for employee health insurance, with the county paying 80 percent of the cost.

Previously, Sutter County was committed to underwrite any health insurance increases by 100 percent, meaning the county bore about 85 percent of the cost.

"No salary increase and getting the health care back to 80-20 is a big win going forward," said Supervisor James Gallagher.

The labor agreement is for one year, which is shorter than the usual agreement, said Karen Ropp, Human Resources director.

"The hope on both sides is that the economic recovery will continue, and we'll be able to fund future increases," Ropp said.

It's been six years since county employees have received cost of living increases, Ropp said.

"We were hoping that the county would see some revenues from the fiscal recovery, but the property taxes from the new homes being built haven't hit the county coffers yet," Ropp said. "Law enforcement is a general fund department, so there's no off-setting state or grant monies for them."

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Contact reporter Andrew Creasey at 749-4780 and on Twitter @AD_Creasey.

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