Board OKs prospective pay hikes for sheriff’s top administrators

RIVERSIDE, Calif. (KESQ) - The Board of Supervisors today authorized the Riverside County Department of Human Resources to potentially increase the salaries of multiple sheriff's administrators on the basis that not doing so would leave them at salary rates equal to or less than underlings.

In a 5-0 vote without comment, the board signed off on the agency's proposal to modify the salary ranges of the correctional chief deputy, the chief deputy sheriff, the chief deputy sheriff designated ``A'' or ``B'' under the salary ordinance, the assistant sheriff and the assistant sheriff designated ``A'' or ``B.''

No one was named specifically in the human resources document posted to the board's agenda Tuesday.

"With the implementation of the adjustments, costs will be incurred only to bring incumbents below the new minimum salary up to the new minimum salary,'' according to an agency statement. "Approval of the recommended adjustments will ensure adequate spacing and appropriate salary progression for the executive management level classifications. This will aid in retention and ensure that the sheriff's department is able to provide growth opportunities into these positions as opportunities arise."

According to officials, the board's approval in July of a new three- year contract with the Law Enforcement Management Unit, representing upper-level sheriff's personnel, as well as District Attorney's Office investigators and other county peace officers, created the likelihood of ``compaction,'' which defines circumstances where a subordinate is making as much as or more than a superior.

It's commonly cited as the rationale for hiking the annual salaries of elected officials, too.

The collective bargaining agreement with the LEMU -- which establishes across-the-board auto pay hikes totaling 19% over the next three years -- placed sheriff's captains at pay rates in competition with their bosses, officials said.

The new range for an assistant sheriff will be $261,000 to $313,323 per year, compared to $163,099 to $221,326 previously. For an assistant sheriff ``A,'' the new range will be $279,000 to $335,256, compared to $172,883 to $278,479 before now. For an assistant sheriff ``B,'' the revised range will be $292,435 to $350,922, instead of $220,791 to $299,326 previously.   

The chief correctional deputy range will go from $161,560 to $230,613, to $191,635 to $251,516 per year. The chief deputy sheriff's range is now $239,544 to $287,453, compared to $150,545 to $209,827 previously. The chief deputy ``A'' range will be $256,312 to $307,574, compared to $159,577 to $222,416 previously, and the ``B'' category will be $268,289 to $321,947, compared to $203,796 to $284,048 in the past.   

The new rates are retroactive to Dec. 11.   

The Department of Human Resources said there are no anticipated immediate impacts to the sheriff's budget as a result of the changes. It was unclear how many of the positions are actually filled.

Officials said a ``market survey'' was conducted to determine the pay rates in neighboring counties and how best to bring the county in line with other jurisdictions.