REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT
AND RECORD OF ACTION
November 3, 2026
FROM
DAN MUNSEY, Fire Chief/Fire Warden, San Bernardino County Fire Protection District
LEONARDO GONZALEZ, Director, Human Resources Department
SUBJECT
Title
Memorandum of Understanding with the Sheriff’s Employees’ Benefit Association Representing Employees in the Specialized Fire Unit
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
Acting as the governing body of the San Bernardino County Fire Protection District, approve the proposed Memorandum of Understanding between the San Bernardino County Fire Protection District and the Sheriff’s Employees’ Benefit Association, representing the employees in the Specialized Fire Unit effective October 31, 2026 through October 31, 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
Although most of the costs associated with this Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) will be funded by revenue sources of the San Bernardino County Fire Protection District (SBCFPD), approval of this item will result in the use of additional Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost) as reflected in the following table:
|
|
|
Funding Source |
|
Fiscal Year |
Estimated Ongoing Costs |
SBCFPD |
Net County Cost |
|
2026-27 |
$380,451 |
$334,987 |
$45,464 |
|
2027-28 |
$1,124,609 |
$990,219 |
$134,390 |
|
2028-29 |
$1,770,585 |
$1,559,000 |
$211,585 |
|
2029-30 |
$2,600,553 |
$2,289,787 |
$310,766 |
|
Ongoing |
$2,907,589 |
$2,560,132 |
$347,457 |
Budget adjustments for 2026-27 costs are not requested at this time but will be included, if needed, in a future budget report presented to the Board of Directors (Board) for approval. Sufficient appropriation for costs in subsequent years 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 Sheriff’s Employees’ Benefit Association (SEBA) in an attempt to reach a successor agreement covering wages, hours, and other terms and conditions of employment for employees in the Specialized Fire Unit (Unit). After several bargaining sessions, the parties reached agreement on the proposed MOU, which contains the following terms:
• Provide 3.00% across-the-board wage increases effective October 31, 2026, October 30, 2027, October 28, 2028, and October 27, 2029.
• Provide a 1.00% equity adjustment to all employees in the Unit effective February 17, 2029.
• Increase the Medical Premium Subsidy for all coverage levels effective October 31, 2026, October 30, 2027, October 28, 2028, and October 27, 2029.
• Add a new top step approximately 2.50% above the existing top step for all non-trainee classifications in the Unit, effective May 1, 2027, and October 27, 2029.
• Increase the Hazardous Materials Response Team (HMRT) Differential to $225 per pay period for eligible employees, effective October 31, 2026.
• Increase the Uniform Allowance annual lump sum to $750 for eligible employees, effective Fiscal Year 2027-28.
• Update the Tuition Reimbursement article with a new structure to align with other SEBA-represented MOUs.
• Clean up obsolete language throughout the MOU.
SEBA 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 31, 2026 through October 31, 2030.
PROCUREMENT
Not applicable.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Cynthia O’Neill, Chief Assistant County Counsel, 387-5397) on October 23, 2026; Human Resources (Leonardo Gonzalez, Director, 387-5570) on October 23, 2026; and County Finance and Administration (Abigail Grant, Principal Administrative Analyst, 387-4603 and Matthew Dalton, Administrative Analyst III, 387-5005) on October 23, 2026.