Only One Union Contract Approved

County residents may have heard that a union contract has been approved by the County Board of Commissioners, although there is some confusion over which set of commissioners approved the contract.

The contract covers members of the Teamsters Union, which represents most workers in the County Building. Their former contract expired on Dec. 31, the same expiration date as the union contracts for law enforcement officers in the Sheriff’s Office and 911 Dispatch. Those unions did not begin negotiations until the current board was sworn in on Jan. 1.

Present commissioners have held three closed sessions to discuss progress on new law enforcement union contracts. Our hope is to avoid binding arbitration.

The Teamsters contract included a significant change, increasing the standard work week for employees from 35 hours to 40 hours. Its other major financial impact is to provide wage increases of 3%, 3%, and 4% over the three years of the agreement.

Five new members of the current seven-member County Board had no input in negotiating or approving the contract. The contract offer was extended on Dec. 30 at a special meeting of the previous board. Union members initially rejected the offer in a first vote, but then approved the identical contract in a second vote held early in the new year. The offer did not return to the new County Board for a vote.

No provisions for increased hours and wages authorized by the contract were included in the 2025 budget. Estimates I requested from county officials for the increased cost came in at $230,000 to $240,000. No cost estimates were provided to commissioners prior to union approval of the contract.

The cost for higher wages was not included in the 2025 county budget. The outcomes of all union negotiations will have a major impact on county finances this year.

One question I’ve been asked is whether the increased hours were needed in all county offices, especially during slower periods. I cannot answer that definitively. We have a dedicated workforce for which I am grateful. Still, this was a sweeping decision that should be revisited and evaluated for efficiency.

One benefit that could be provided to residents would be to extend department and elected officials’ office hours from 9 to 5 to 8:30 to 5 or even 8 to 5. (The Building Department is already open 8 to 4 to better accommodate contractors.) I have brought this suggestion up at two meetings and plan to continue pursuing the expansion of office hours. I hope department heads, elected officials, and employees will give this serious consideration, as they are dedicated public servants. The County Board has no authority to set hours for the offices of elected officials.