Action 17.
Regular Board of Supervisors Meeting
County Sheriff
- Meeting Date:
- 01/07/2014
- Title:
- Detention Officer Pay Plan
- Submitted By:
- Kenneth Bradshaw, County Sheriff
- Department:
- County Sheriff
Presentation:
No A/V Presentation
Recommendation:
Approve
Document Signatures:
BOS Signature NOT Required
# of ORIGINALS
Submitted for Signature:
Submitted for Signature:
0
NAME
of PRESENTER:
of PRESENTER:
Sheriff Mark Dannels
TITLE
of PRESENTER:
of PRESENTER:
Sheriff
Mandated Function?:
Not Mandated
Source of Mandate
or Basis for Support?:
or Basis for Support?:
Docket Number (If applicable):
Information
Agenda Item Text:
Approve a Detention Officer Pay Plan to allow base salary adjustments dependent upon certification/training qualifications and tenure requirements.
Background:
For some time the Sheriff’s Office Detention Division has experienced difficulty in retaining staff, carrying vacancies for many years, and trouble recruiting qualified staff at the current pay range and structure. Since July of 2012 (18 months) 24 Detention Officers have ended employment with the Sheriff’s Office. Sheriff Dannels along with Human Resources staff have developed a plan to help alleviate some of these difficulties. The Plan is structured similar to the Deputy Pay Plan previously approved by the Board of Supervisors several years ago. In essence, the Plan allows base salary adjustments when an employee meets certain certifications/training and tenure requirements.
There are two components associated with adjusting Detention Officer Pay. The first part is bringing the level of pay up to or at least close to market. To identify our Detentions Officers current market position in comparison with its competitors, Human Resources conducted a study of comparable sized and contiguous Arizona Counties as well as the State Prison in Douglas. Cochise County significantly lags behind most other jurisdictions with which we compete.
The cost to implement this plan is approximately $266,718.90 annually. This would be the ongoing cost of bringing the staff to the recommended pay levels. Because detention officers are very much behind market, some proposed increases are in excess of 20%. Even with these increases they will not be above current market. Paying Detention Officers a competitive wage is also an important step in minimizing corruption. The reasoning for higher salaries goes beyond an anti-corruption measure; it will serve as a draw for individuals in the private sector, and as a competitive salary as well.
The second part is the establishment of a Pay Plan to keep salaries at or close to market. The Plan outlines increases to base salaries based on Detention Officers achieving certifications/training and tenure. The Corporal, Sergeant and Lieutenant levels move up on the basis of tenure alone. The ongoing cost of the plan is estimated to be between $12k - $32k annually. The Sheriff has identified Jail Enhancement funds, generated by fines and fees, to cover the cost of the proposed increases and the ongoing Plan costs for the next several years.
Jail enhancement funds are to be used to enhance jails, jail operations and jail training programs beyond the Sheriff's normally budgeted programs. The Sheriffs Office continues to evolve and improve operations through changes in management and redeployment of our limited resources. This plan increases and improves the value, quality, desirability and attractiveness of county jail services and operations. The Legislature, in its wisdom, used the term "enhancement" thereby deferring to the expertise of those who run the jails to determine what they need to improve or enhance their jail operations. JEF allocations are intended to enhance jail operations. This plan gives Detention Officers incentive to strive for an even higher level of performance by pursuing the required training and standards to reach the next level. It also creates goals for staff, increasing the likelihood that staff will stay in the organization enhancing the number of senior staff along with the knowledge and experience that come with additional training and tenure.
Over the next several years the County Administration will work to shift costs away from Jail Enhancement to the General Fund during the development of each budget where ultimately the General Fund will absorb the vast majority of the cost.
There are two components associated with adjusting Detention Officer Pay. The first part is bringing the level of pay up to or at least close to market. To identify our Detentions Officers current market position in comparison with its competitors, Human Resources conducted a study of comparable sized and contiguous Arizona Counties as well as the State Prison in Douglas. Cochise County significantly lags behind most other jurisdictions with which we compete.
The cost to implement this plan is approximately $266,718.90 annually. This would be the ongoing cost of bringing the staff to the recommended pay levels. Because detention officers are very much behind market, some proposed increases are in excess of 20%. Even with these increases they will not be above current market. Paying Detention Officers a competitive wage is also an important step in minimizing corruption. The reasoning for higher salaries goes beyond an anti-corruption measure; it will serve as a draw for individuals in the private sector, and as a competitive salary as well.
The second part is the establishment of a Pay Plan to keep salaries at or close to market. The Plan outlines increases to base salaries based on Detention Officers achieving certifications/training and tenure. The Corporal, Sergeant and Lieutenant levels move up on the basis of tenure alone. The ongoing cost of the plan is estimated to be between $12k - $32k annually. The Sheriff has identified Jail Enhancement funds, generated by fines and fees, to cover the cost of the proposed increases and the ongoing Plan costs for the next several years.
Jail enhancement funds are to be used to enhance jails, jail operations and jail training programs beyond the Sheriff's normally budgeted programs. The Sheriffs Office continues to evolve and improve operations through changes in management and redeployment of our limited resources. This plan increases and improves the value, quality, desirability and attractiveness of county jail services and operations. The Legislature, in its wisdom, used the term "enhancement" thereby deferring to the expertise of those who run the jails to determine what they need to improve or enhance their jail operations. JEF allocations are intended to enhance jail operations. This plan gives Detention Officers incentive to strive for an even higher level of performance by pursuing the required training and standards to reach the next level. It also creates goals for staff, increasing the likelihood that staff will stay in the organization enhancing the number of senior staff along with the knowledge and experience that come with additional training and tenure.
Over the next several years the County Administration will work to shift costs away from Jail Enhancement to the General Fund during the development of each budget where ultimately the General Fund will absorb the vast majority of the cost.
Department's Next Steps (if approved):
Upon Board approval, the Sheriff's Office will work with Human Resources and Finance to impement the described Detention Officer Pay Plan.
Impact of NOT Approving/Alternatives:
If the Board does not approve this plan, Detention staff will remain at their current pay. Their current pay is significantly below market value. Detention will continue to lose approximately 25% of its staff annually due to corruption and transfer to higher paying jobs. Officers will not gain needed experience resulting in relatively new staff training newly employed staff.
To BOS Staff: Document Disposition/Follow-Up:
Not Applicable
Fiscal Impact
- Fiscal Year:
- 2014
- One-time Fixed Costs? ($$$):
- Ongoing Costs? ($$$):
- 266718.90
- County Match Required? ($$$):
- A-87 Overhead Amt? (Co. Cost Allocation $$$):
- Source of Funding?:
- Jail Enhancement Fund
Fiscal Impact & Funding Sources (if known):
The cost to implement this plan is approximately $266,718.90 annually. The Sheriff has identified Jail Enhancement funds, generated by fines and fees, to cover the cost of the proposed increases and the ongoing Plan costs for the next several years. Over the next several years the County Administration will work to shift costs away from Jail Enhancement to the General Fund during the development of each budget where ultimately the General Fund will absorb the vast majority of the cost.
- Fiscal Year:
- 2015
- One-time Fixed Costs? ($$$):
- Ongoing Costs? ($$$):
- 23,940.00
- County Match Required? ($$$):
- A-87 Overhead Amt? (Co. Cost Allocation $$$):
- Source of Funding?:
Fiscal Impact & Funding Sources (if known):
The estimated additional cost to the plan for Fiscal year 2015is $23,940.00. The Sheriff has identified Jail Enhancement funds, generated by fines and fees, to cover the cost of the proposed increases and the ongoing Plan costs for the next several years. Over the next several years the County Administration will work to shift costs away from Jail Enhancement to the General Fund during the development of each budget where ultimately the General Fund will absorb the vast majority of the cost.