Missoula County opposes SB 238: Revise compensation for sheriffs, undersheriffs and deputy sheriffs, up for hearing this afternoon in the Senate Local Government Committee. SB 238 continues the outdated process of linking deputy sheriffs’ pay to the elected sheriff. In urban and rural counties across the state, this limits the ability of local governments to provide adequate compensation to deputy sheriffs in comparison to other law enforcement officers performing the same duties in municipalities and at highway patrol. By comparison, SB 232, related to highway patrol officer pay, allows the state to look to sheriff and municipal law enforcement for wage comparisons and then collectively bargain wages for highway patrol officers. SB 238’s percentage-based system means that deputy sheriffs in local communities will continue to lag behind their peers. Instead of being tied to an artificial percentage, deputy sheriffs’ salaries should be negotiated and agreed to by commissioners through collective bargaining or pay plans.
Missoula County opposes SB 238: Revise compensation for sheriffs, undersheriffs and deputy sheriffs, up for second reading on the Senate floor Monday morning.
Elected officials salaries at the county level are set by a compensation board made up of elected officials and members of the public. SB 238 continues the outdated process of linking deputy sheriffs’ pay to the elected sheriff, and increases the inability for counties to compensate elected officials for the duties and responsibilities they take on when elected to office. Under the current system, there is at least equity in the pay between elected officials as it requires a uniform base, SB238 creates an imbalance, under SB 238 the elected Sheriff may be paid more than other elected officials performing equally weighty and daunting jobs, by allowing “an additional sum as determined by the compensation board”, this provision is not recognized for any other elected official. In urban and rural counties across the state local governments struggle to compensate employees adequately, SB 238 continues to limit the ability of local governments to provide adequate compensation to deputy sheriffs in comparison to other law enforcement officers performing the same duties in municipalities and at highway patrol, by continuing an antiquated percentage of the sheriff’s salary system. SB 238’s legacy percentage-based system means that deputy sheriffs in local communities will continue to lag behind their peers, who are not restricted to a percentage of any other salary but are instead negotiated and agreed to by commissioners through collective bargaining agreements or pay plans, which can look at market factors.
Senators Boldman and Morigeau,
ReplyDeleteMissoula County opposes SB 238: Revise compensation for sheriffs, undersheriffs and deputy sheriffs, up for hearing this afternoon in the Senate Local Government Committee. SB 238 continues the outdated process of linking deputy sheriffs’ pay to the elected sheriff. In urban and rural counties across the state, this limits the ability of local governments to provide adequate compensation to deputy sheriffs in comparison to other law enforcement officers performing the same duties in municipalities and at highway patrol. By comparison, SB 232, related to highway patrol officer pay, allows the state to look to sheriff and municipal law enforcement for wage comparisons and then collectively bargain wages for highway patrol officers. SB 238’s percentage-based system means that deputy sheriffs in local communities will continue to lag behind their peers. Instead of being tied to an artificial percentage, deputy sheriffs’ salaries should be negotiated and agreed to by commissioners through collective bargaining or pay plans.
Please oppose SB 238.
Senators,
ReplyDeleteMissoula County opposes SB 238: Revise compensation for sheriffs, undersheriffs and deputy sheriffs, up for second reading on the Senate floor Monday morning.
Elected officials salaries at the county level are set by a compensation board made up of elected officials and members of the public. SB 238 continues the outdated process of linking deputy sheriffs’ pay to the elected sheriff, and increases the inability for counties to compensate elected officials for the duties and responsibilities they take on when elected to office. Under the current system, there is at least equity in the pay between elected officials as it requires a uniform base, SB238 creates an imbalance, under SB 238 the elected Sheriff may be paid more than other elected officials performing equally weighty and daunting jobs, by allowing “an additional sum as determined by the compensation board”, this provision is not recognized for any other elected official.
In urban and rural counties across the state local governments struggle to compensate employees adequately, SB 238 continues to limit the ability of local governments to provide adequate compensation to deputy sheriffs in comparison to other law enforcement officers performing the same duties in municipalities and at highway patrol, by continuing an antiquated percentage of the sheriff’s salary system. SB 238’s legacy percentage-based system means that deputy sheriffs in local communities will continue to lag behind their peers, who are not restricted to a percentage of any other salary but are instead negotiated and agreed to by commissioners through collective bargaining agreements or pay plans, which can look at market factors.
Please oppose SB 238.