County proposing pay cuts to administrators, contract employees
An ordinance proposing to cut all county administrators' work hours by 5-percent and offer special incentives to employees who voluntarily retire early goes before the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday for a first reading.
Under the terms of the ordinance, administrative staff and certain contract employees would see their work schedules reduced by up to eight hours per pay period. In addition, eligible employees who voluntarily retire before June 30 would receive an additional $1,000 a year for the first five years of their retirement.
An identical proposal is aimed at the two labor unions representing county employees, the San Bernardino County Public Employees Association (SBPEA) and the San Bernardino County Safety Employees Benefit Association (SEBA). The county is still in negotiations with the unions, and the Board of Supervisors is expected to vote on a similar agenda item soon, said David Wert, county spokesman.
"This just makes it clear to union employees that this isn't something they won't be by themselves on, and management is going to participate as well," Wert said.
It's part of an effort by the county to shore up a more than $131 million budget deficit for the 2008-2009 and 2009-2010 fiscal years. The proposed pay cuts to admistrative staff and contract employees is expected to save the county $3.6 million in the next fiscal year, while the early retirement incentive program is expected to save the county $35 million over the five-year period.
More than two years ago, county officials started observing a disturbing blip in the housing market and began taking steps to address the looming mortgage meltdown and economic crisis. It imposed a hiring freeze, cut back on employee travel and other miscellaneous expenses and implemented an eight-percent cut to all department budgets, Wert said.
The proposed pay cuts to the two labor unions, as they stand now, would save the county an estimated $18.2 million.
The proposed ordinance for administrative staff and certain contract employees goes before the board for a final reading on March 17.
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