Since then, a salary study for Supervisors was conducted to compare Contra Costa County’s salaries with other counties. The counties of Alameda, Marin, Napa, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Solano, and Sonoma were used in the salary study. Among these eight (8) counties, Contra Costa County is the third most populated county. Also, 6 of these 8 counties set their salaries as a percentage of that of the Superior Court judges. In fact, many counties in California also set the Supervisors’ salaries as a percentage of that of the Superior Court judges. Of the 12 California counties designated as “Urban Counties” based on population, 8 of those counties also set the
Supervisors’ salaries as a percentage of that of the Superior Court judges. Effective July 1, 2014 Superior Court judges, including those in Contra Costa County, had their salaries increased to $184,610 thus resulting in an increase for Supervisors in many of those same California counties.
In Contra Costa County, Supervisors' salaries are set by ordinance. The last time Supervisors adjusted their salaries was in 2006, and the last increase was July 1, 2007, when they received a 2% cost of living adjustment (COLA). The Supervisors also took wage reductions from July 1, 2009, through July 31, 2013, along with a majority of our County employees. As a result of this, Contra Costa County Supervisors' salaries are now the lowest in the State for Urban Counties, and the second lowest for counties in the Bay Area.
On October 21, 2014, the County Administrator reported that because the Board has recently made adjustments for the Contra Costa County elected department heads, it might be an appropriate time to consider also adjusting the Supervisors' salaries which have not been increased for a number of years. In the Bay Area, Contra Costa County Supervisors' salaries are near the bottom, with only Solano and Napa slightly higher or lower and those two counties have less than half the population of Contra Costa County. Additionally, many of the Bay Area counties tie the Supervisors' salaries to a percentage of the Superior Court judge’s salary, with the percentage ranging between 47% and 80%. Board members considered the information provided, heard public testimony, and requested that an ordinance be prepared using 70% of Superior Court judges' salaries. Additionally, the Board requested information be provided regarding other department heads' salaries. The table below, sorted by annual salary, lists each department head classification and identifies elected department heads with an asterisk.
As directed by the Board of Supervisors on October 21, 2014, attached is Ordinance 2014-10 that would increase Supervisors’ salaries to an annual amount equivalent to seventy percent of Superior Court judges’ salaries and provide that prospectively Supervisors’ salaries shall be increased at such times and in such percentages necessary to maintain a base salary equivalent to seventy percent of judges’ salaries. This ordinance would amend Code section 24-26.006, Supervisors. Both a clean and redline version of the Ordinance are attached for reference.
New ordinance will not be introduced.
Speakers: Doug Parkel, resident of Bay Point; Jonathan T. Wright, IFPTE Local 21; Margaret Hanlon-Gradie, Contra Costa AFL-CIO Labor Council; Jenna Biglow, resident of Discovery Bay; Ken Westerman, Deputy Sheriff's Association; Daniel Jameyson, SEIU Local 1021 Rank and File; Cynthia O'Brien, Contra Costa Regional Medical Center Health Care Workers; Gayle Walls Burns; Phil Hu, Local One; Joanie Copeland, Local 2700; Alex Aliferis, Contra Costa Taxpayers Association; Gina Prendiville (handout attached); Vito Impastato; Cristina Hernandez.
The following people did not wish to speak but provided written comments for consideration (attached): RJ Dutra, Deputy Probation Officer; Nadine Peyrucain, resident of Martinez.