REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
AND RECORD OF ACTION
October 6, 2026
FROM
LEONARDO GONZALEZ, Director, Human Resources Department
SUBJECT
Title
Memorandum of Understanding with the San Bernardino County Public Attorneys Association
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
Approve the proposed Memorandum of Understanding between San Bernardino County and the San Bernardino County Public Attorneys Association, representing the employees in the Attorney Unit, extending the terms and conditions of employment effective October 17, 2026 through February 28, 2030.
(Presenter: Leonardo Gonzalez, Director, 387-5570)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Create, Maintain and Grow Employment Opportunities and Economic Value in the County.
Improve County Government Operations.
Operate in a Fiscally-Responsible and Business-Like Manner.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Approval of this item will result in the use of additional Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost) of approximately $1.0 million in 2026-27, $4.6 million in 2027-28, $8.5 million in 2028-29, $10.6 million in 2029-30, and $10.6 million in ongoing years. The total estimated ongoing cost associated with the approval of this Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) is approximately $1.2 million in 2026-27, $5.5 million in 2027-28, $10.2 million in 2028-29, $12.8 million in 2029-30, and $12.8 million in ongoing years. Approval of the necessary budget adjustments for 2026-27 is not requested at this time but will 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
Representatives of San Bernardino County (County), under direction of the Board, met and conferred with representatives of the San Bernardino County Public Attorneys Association (SBCPAA) to reach a successor agreement covering wages, hours, and other terms and conditions of employment for employees in the Attorney Unit (Unit). After several months of bargaining, the parties reached agreement on the proposed MOU, which contains the following terms:
• Provide 3.00% across-the-board wage increases effective March 6, 2027, February 19, 2028, and February 17, 2029.
• Provide a 1.65% equity adjustment to Range 82 effective March 4, 2028.
• Provide eligible Attorney IV employees with a one-step salary advancement effective November 14, 2026, November 13, 2027, and November 11, 2028.
• Eliminate step 4 for Range 82, effective November 14, 2026, step 5 for Range 82, effective November 13, 2027, and step 6 for Range 82, effective November 11, 2028.
• Add a new top step approximately 2.50% above the existing top step for Range 82, effective November 14, 2026, November 13, 2027, and November 11, 2028.
• Increase the Medical Premium Subsidy for all coverage levels effective July 10, 2027, July 8, 2028, and July 7, 2029.
• Increase the Remote Assignment Differential to $100 per pay period for eligible employees effective March 6, 2027.
• Increase County Retirement Medical Trust contributions to 2.00% for employees with over 10 years of service and 2.25% for employees with over 15 years of service, effective February 19, 2028.
• Increase the maximum sick leave hours eligible for the 65% cash conversion to 1,500 hours effective February 19, 2028.
• Increase the Modified Benefit Option (MBO) Wage Differential to 4.00% for Attorney IV classifications, effective July 24, 2027.
• Effective Open Enrollment 2027, allow employees to purchase vision care insurance for eligible dependents at the employee’s cost.
• Clean up obsolete language throughout the MOU.
SBCPAA has notified the County that the Unit has ratified the proposed MOU. The proposed MOU, if approved, will extend the terms and conditions of employment for the Unit effective October 17, 2026, through February 28, 2030.
PROCUREMENT
Not applicable.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Cynthia O’Neill, Chief Assistant County Counsel, 387-5455) on September 15, 2026; Human Resources (Leonardo Gonzalez, Director, 387-5568) on September 17, 2026; and County Finance and Administration (Abigail Grant, Principal Administrative Analyst, 387-4603) on September 21, 2026.