DISCUSSION and possible action of resolution pertaining to salaries for appointed and elected Sierra County department managers was a topic at the Board of Supervisors’ meeting held Tuesday, March 5th in Downieville. Supervisor Lee Adams stated that both Board Chairman Paul Roen and himself as Vice Chair sat with department managers discussing the memo that states in part, “The Department Heads (DH) have requested a COLA /Adjustment that would bring DH close to the employees’ COLAs (Cost Of Living Adjustment) over the last 17 years. In those same 17 years, DH have received 10% compared to the employees’ 25-26%, and only in the last two fiscal years 20-21 and 21-22.
In 2006 the Board gave long term DH a large increase. Since that time, we have had 46.20% inflation. So, $1 in 2006 has the buying power of 53.8 cents today. Social Security in the same period given 41.33% in COLAs keeping the retiree today at 95.13 cents of buying power. Sierra County employees have received COLAs of 26.5% and 25.50%, giving their $1 in today dollar 79.3 cents and 80.3 cents of buying power. CalPERS has given 32% in COLAs keeping retires in that system at 85.8 cents of buying power today.
DH have had 10% in COLAs during that same period from 2006 to today, giving their dollar only 63.8 cents of buying power. The DH are asking for our dollar to be 75.94 to 76.49 cents.”
Adams said one of the reasons the budget has been as good as it has is because the department managers are responsible. He spent time pondering their issue and looked at COLA’s involving CALPERS and Social Security over the last 15-20 years and felt their frustration with the COLA gap. They talked about county comparisons that County Counsel gave them, looking at Plumas, Lassen and Alpine Counties. Adams felt there was a good argument that county employees have kept up with inflation better than department heads. Tier 1 department managers are being surpassed by 2nd in command in other agencies. He added Sierra County is competing and if they want to fill positions, they need to be somewhat close in that market. Adams stated his biggest concern was the timing and if they decide to move forward the timing of it. He felt whatever the Board decided to do should be to put in the final budget first to see how everything else falls. There was a lot of information to go through, and Roen felt it would be good to hold the item over for two weeks. Adams added it was tough to ignore, that department heads have "eaten it" for the last 15 years to balance everything out. Supervisor Sharon Dryden felt they needed to look at making it more equitable, adding it was hard to compare to other counties when Sierra County department heads have many other responsibilities. From the public, Sandy Sanders told the Board, Sierra County may have bigger things to pay for with declining revenue and possible budget cuts. He felt it would take careful analysis of the budget. Chief Technology Officer Jeremy Miller wanted to point out and to consider the absolute benefit that they think of decisions and find solutions in this area. He stated they aren’t just employees, they are residents as well. He said they are not “just checking boxes” but making decisions on if it will fit our environments. Miller added they are dedicated to this county and their departments and being very financially sound across the board. Public Works Director Bryan Davey said they care deeply about the employees of Sierra County and didn’t want this request to impact employees. Dryden stated the Board was also very cognizant of the huge hits they’ve had to health benefits. Roen appreciated the sincerity and hoped to rectify the situation going forward. This topic will be on the March 19th agenda in Loyalton.
THE JOINT MEETING of the Sierra County Office of Education and the Sierra-Plumas Joint Unified School District Governoring Board held its regular meeting on Tuesday, March 5th.
The Board voted unanimously for the adoption of the 2023-2024 SCOE and SPJUSD Second Interim Actuals which projects the district will be able to meet its financial obligations for the current fiscal year and subsequent two years. Board President Kelly Champion questioned a one-time contribution of $233,290 to cover a receivable from 21-22 that was not received. Interim CBO, Terri Ryland stated it was a Universal TK Planning Grant that was budgeted and spent but never granted. She called the CDE and they said the grant was applied for, but it wasn’t awarded.
The adoption of Resolution No. 24-011D, Intention to Dismiss Certificated Employees for 2024-2025 was passed unanimously. District Superintendent Sean Snider stated with the need to reduce deficit spending, their biggest spending is on staff, and this resolution reduces three full-time teachers. He stated the “best news” was they could do this all through attrition, and won’t need to issue anyone notices.
STORM DAMAGE was reported during the Department Manager’s reports at the Sierra County Board of Supervisors’ meeting held Tuesday, March 5th in Downieville. Sheriff Mike Fisher stated Office of Emergency Services had not declared any emergencies from the storm. He was aware of some damages to homes and electrical lines down. Fisher reported having good communication with Public Works, PG&E, AT&T and Liberty Utilities, adding there was a Liberty issue in Loyalton with one of the city blocks not energized. He stated in the Sheriff’s office, calls for service during the storm were minimal.
Public Works Director Bryan Davey stated they had to close a couple roads due to power lines down in Sierra City. There was an issue in Verdi with a road they weren’t able to plow and had to contract the job out. Davey also reported the Sierra Brooks water system server failed possibly due to the fluctuations of power. He called it a pretty substantial failure on a fairly new server and had to send the server unit back to Florida. The system is currently being operated manually until the server is back online.
Behavioral Health Director Sheryll Prinz-McMillan reported the Behavioral Health (BH) building in Loyalton was without electricity on Monday, March 4th. The Social Services building has a generator but BH does not, so they had to adjust how they operated that day.
Building and Planning Director Brandon Pangman reported they were notified by Sierra City Fire Department about trees down on houses. They did inspections on Monday, March 4th and three houses were posted with Do Not Occupy notices, citing significant structural damage. Pangman stated they would be working closely with homeowners and insurance to get them patched up.
Nichole Johnson
[email protected]
In 2006 the Board gave long term DH a large increase. Since that time, we have had 46.20% inflation. So, $1 in 2006 has the buying power of 53.8 cents today. Social Security in the same period given 41.33% in COLAs keeping the retiree today at 95.13 cents of buying power. Sierra County employees have received COLAs of 26.5% and 25.50%, giving their $1 in today dollar 79.3 cents and 80.3 cents of buying power. CalPERS has given 32% in COLAs keeping retires in that system at 85.8 cents of buying power today.
DH have had 10% in COLAs during that same period from 2006 to today, giving their dollar only 63.8 cents of buying power. The DH are asking for our dollar to be 75.94 to 76.49 cents.”
Adams said one of the reasons the budget has been as good as it has is because the department managers are responsible. He spent time pondering their issue and looked at COLA’s involving CALPERS and Social Security over the last 15-20 years and felt their frustration with the COLA gap. They talked about county comparisons that County Counsel gave them, looking at Plumas, Lassen and Alpine Counties. Adams felt there was a good argument that county employees have kept up with inflation better than department heads. Tier 1 department managers are being surpassed by 2nd in command in other agencies. He added Sierra County is competing and if they want to fill positions, they need to be somewhat close in that market. Adams stated his biggest concern was the timing and if they decide to move forward the timing of it. He felt whatever the Board decided to do should be to put in the final budget first to see how everything else falls. There was a lot of information to go through, and Roen felt it would be good to hold the item over for two weeks. Adams added it was tough to ignore, that department heads have "eaten it" for the last 15 years to balance everything out. Supervisor Sharon Dryden felt they needed to look at making it more equitable, adding it was hard to compare to other counties when Sierra County department heads have many other responsibilities. From the public, Sandy Sanders told the Board, Sierra County may have bigger things to pay for with declining revenue and possible budget cuts. He felt it would take careful analysis of the budget. Chief Technology Officer Jeremy Miller wanted to point out and to consider the absolute benefit that they think of decisions and find solutions in this area. He stated they aren’t just employees, they are residents as well. He said they are not “just checking boxes” but making decisions on if it will fit our environments. Miller added they are dedicated to this county and their departments and being very financially sound across the board. Public Works Director Bryan Davey said they care deeply about the employees of Sierra County and didn’t want this request to impact employees. Dryden stated the Board was also very cognizant of the huge hits they’ve had to health benefits. Roen appreciated the sincerity and hoped to rectify the situation going forward. This topic will be on the March 19th agenda in Loyalton.
THE JOINT MEETING of the Sierra County Office of Education and the Sierra-Plumas Joint Unified School District Governoring Board held its regular meeting on Tuesday, March 5th.
The Board voted unanimously for the adoption of the 2023-2024 SCOE and SPJUSD Second Interim Actuals which projects the district will be able to meet its financial obligations for the current fiscal year and subsequent two years. Board President Kelly Champion questioned a one-time contribution of $233,290 to cover a receivable from 21-22 that was not received. Interim CBO, Terri Ryland stated it was a Universal TK Planning Grant that was budgeted and spent but never granted. She called the CDE and they said the grant was applied for, but it wasn’t awarded.
The adoption of Resolution No. 24-011D, Intention to Dismiss Certificated Employees for 2024-2025 was passed unanimously. District Superintendent Sean Snider stated with the need to reduce deficit spending, their biggest spending is on staff, and this resolution reduces three full-time teachers. He stated the “best news” was they could do this all through attrition, and won’t need to issue anyone notices.
STORM DAMAGE was reported during the Department Manager’s reports at the Sierra County Board of Supervisors’ meeting held Tuesday, March 5th in Downieville. Sheriff Mike Fisher stated Office of Emergency Services had not declared any emergencies from the storm. He was aware of some damages to homes and electrical lines down. Fisher reported having good communication with Public Works, PG&E, AT&T and Liberty Utilities, adding there was a Liberty issue in Loyalton with one of the city blocks not energized. He stated in the Sheriff’s office, calls for service during the storm were minimal.
Public Works Director Bryan Davey stated they had to close a couple roads due to power lines down in Sierra City. There was an issue in Verdi with a road they weren’t able to plow and had to contract the job out. Davey also reported the Sierra Brooks water system server failed possibly due to the fluctuations of power. He called it a pretty substantial failure on a fairly new server and had to send the server unit back to Florida. The system is currently being operated manually until the server is back online.
Behavioral Health Director Sheryll Prinz-McMillan reported the Behavioral Health (BH) building in Loyalton was without electricity on Monday, March 4th. The Social Services building has a generator but BH does not, so they had to adjust how they operated that day.
Building and Planning Director Brandon Pangman reported they were notified by Sierra City Fire Department about trees down on houses. They did inspections on Monday, March 4th and three houses were posted with Do Not Occupy notices, citing significant structural damage. Pangman stated they would be working closely with homeowners and insurance to get them patched up.
Nichole Johnson
[email protected]