REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
AND RECORD OF ACTION
January 23, 2024
FROM
LUTHER SNOKE, Chief Executive Officer, County Administrative Office
SUBJECT
Title
Introduction of Ordinance Amending the San Bernardino County Code Relating to Compensation and Terms and Conditions of Exempt Group Employees, Sheriff’s Trainee Employees, and Law Clerk Employees
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
1. Consider proposed ordinance amending the San Bernardino County Code relating to compensation and terms and conditions of the Exempt Group, Sheriff’s Trainees, and Law Clerk.
2. Make alterations, if necessary, to proposed ordinance.
3. Approve introduction of proposed ordinance.
• An ordinance of San Bernardino County, State of California, to amend Sections 13.0613, 13.0617a, and 13.0617m of the San Bernardino County Code relating to compensation and working terms and conditions for the Exempt Group, Sheriff’s Trainees, and Law Clerk.
4. SCHEDULE ORDINANCE FOR FINAL ADOPTION ON TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2024, on the Consent Calendar.
(Presenter: Leonardo Gonzalez, County Labor Relations Chief, 387-5565)
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COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Create, Maintain and Grow Jobs and Economic Value in the County.
Improve County Government Operations.
Operate in a Fiscally Responsible and Business-Like Manner.
Ensure Development of a Well-Planned, Balanced, and Sustainable County.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Approval of this item will result in the use of additional ongoing Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost) of approximately $211,000 in 2023-24, $831,000 in 2024-25, $1,719,000 in 2025-26, $3,008,000 in 2026-27 and $3,025,000 in ongoing years. The total estimated cost associated with the proposed amendments to the ordinance is $752,000 in 2023-24, $2,965,000 in 2024-25, $6,135,000 in 2025-26, $10,800,000 in 2026-27 and in ongoing years. Approval of the necessary budget adjustments is not requested at this time but may be included in a future budget report presented to the Board of Supervisors (Board) for approval, if necessary. Sufficient appropriation will be included in future recommended budgets.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The proposed ordinance sets the terms and conditions of Exempt Group and non-represented employees covered by the ordinance, as well as County Officials, including the members of the Board and countywide elected officials.
It is proposed that Section 13.0613 of the San Bernardino Code, relating to the Salaries and Working Conditions of the Exempt Group be amended to make the following updates:
• Provide a 3% across-the-board wage increase effective February 21, 2026.
• Establish a Revenue-Sharing initiative that allows for up to 1% equity if certain conditions are met effective February 22, 2025, and February 21, 2026.
• Provide targeted equity increases to certain classifications.
• Increase the Medical Premium Subsidy for all coverage levels effective the pay period following Board approval, July 13, 2024, July 12, 2025, and July 11, 2026.
• Establish a new Retention Pay tier of 1% at 10 years of service and increase the current Retention Pay tier at 15 years of service to 3%.
• Update leave provisions in compliance with changes to California law.
• Add clarifying language to the Medical and Dental Insurance section to reflect current practice for employees eligible for the Needles premium subsidy.
• Modify Director of Human Resources’ authority for administrative leave or lump sum payment for eligible employees in cases of separation from County employment from one year to six months of the employee’s annual salary and benefits.
• Make administrative changes to County Counsel Legal Service Classification section reducing the service hour requirement at trainee classification levels.
• Add clarifying language for prior service credit requests in the Retirement Medical Trust Fund section to reflect current practice.
• Amend language regarding eligibility for advanced step placement.
• Update classification and salary range structure to reflect changes approved in the County’s Budget Report.
• Clean up language throughout the entirety of the ordinance.
It is proposed to amend Subsections 13.0617a of the San Bernardino County Code, relating to the Salaries and Working Conditions of the Sheriff’s Trainees, to update posted salary range to reflect the current salary for the classification.
It is proposed to amend Subsections 13.0617m of the San Bernardino County Code, relating to the Salaries and Working Conditions of the Law Clerk, to update posted salary range to reflect the current salary for the classification.
The proposed ordinance amending the San Bernardino County Code relating to compensation and terms and conditions of the Exempt Group, Sheriff’s Trainees, and Law Clerk will become effective on February 10, 2024, should the Board adopt this ordinance.
PROCUREMENT
Not applicable.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Cynthia O’Neill, Principal Assistant County Counsel, 387-5455) on January 11, 2024; Human Resources (Diane Rundles, Assistant Executive Office, 387-5570) on January 10, 2024; Finance (Abigail Grant, Administrative Analyst, 387-4603) on January 11, 2024; and County Finance and Administration (Matthew Erickson, County Chief Financial Officer, 387-5423) on January 11, 2024.