TO: Board of Supervisors
FROM: Sheryl L. Bratton, County Counsel
REPORT BY: Susan B. Altman, Deputy County Counsel
SUBJECT: Amend 2.04.040 - Salaries and Benefits and a Resolution Amending the Table and Index of Classes to Increase the Compensation of the Board of Supervisors
RECOMMENDATION
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Adopt an Ordinance amending Title 2 (Administration and Personnel), Chapter 2.04 (Board of Supervisors), Article I, Section 2.04.040 (Salaries and Benefits) of the Napa County Code regarding salary rate and adding language requiring a periodic salary review; and adopt a Resolution amending the Table and Index of Classes to reflect salary increases for members of the Board of Supervisors effective July 1, 2024 and then a salary increase effective 60 days from the adoption of amendments to Section 2.04.040. (Fiscal Impact: $283,000 Expense; General Fund; Budgeted; Discretionary)
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BACKGROUND
The salary for members of the Board of Supervisors is set by Ordinance. Until 1993, members of the Board of Supervisors received a fixed biweekly amount. Since 1993, the salary for members of the Board of Supervisors has been a percentage of the Superior Court Judges’ salary. From July 1, 1993 through February 19, 1999, the percentage was 34% of the Superior Court Judges’ salary. The percentage of salary increased to 45% on February 20, 1999 and to 47.09% on August 27, 2005. The percentage has remained unchanged since 2005.
On August 6, 2024, Human Resources presented preliminary findings of the countywide management compensation study regarding the Board of Supervisors classification. Benchmark classifications are used for reliable salary surveys. Using a benchmark classification ensures that at least 70% of duties performed in the comparable classifications are similar. If a salary survey indicates that a classification is more than 4% below the market median, a salary adjustment to the market median will be recommended. The Board of Supervisors classification is a benchmark. For this salary survey, the comparable jurisdictions were Contra Costa County, Marin County, City of Napa, Santa Cruz County, Solano County, and Sonoma County.
The comparable agencies also set their Board of Supervisors salaries at a fixed percentage of Superior Court
Judges:
Agency Approximate Annual Salary Fixed Percentage
Contra Costa $155,002 65%
Marin $141,794 60%
City of Napa n/a n/a
Santa Cruz $143,333 62%
Solano* $150,238 63%
Sonoma $173,701 75%
Market Median $150,238 63%
*Solano County increased its fixed percentage from 53% to 63% effective December 1, 2023
The salary survey demonstrates that the Board of Supervisors classification is more than 4% below the median salary of comparable agencies.
The County typically reviews management salaries following labor negotiations. Specifically, this review is used to address any compaction issues to ensure at least that managers’ salaries are 10% higher than their highest paid employee. Because the members of the Board of Supervisors are now directly supervising their staff assistants, a salary review was necessary.
On September 10, 2024, the amendment was introduced on the Board of Supervisors’ regular agenda after it was properly noticed. This request asks the Board of Supervisors to adopt the recommended amendments to Napa County Code Section 2.04.040 increasing the Board of Supervisors’ salary calculation percentage from 47.09% to 63% of the Superior Court Judges to bring the benchmark classification within 4% of the median salary for comparable counties and to address the issue of compaction described above. This pay increase is operative following 60 days after its adoption. Further, the amended ordinance requires a review of the Board of Supervisors salary at least every five years.
Section 2.100.270 of the Napa County Code provides that changes to the Table and Index shall be established by Resolution. On August 20, 2024, the County received notification that Superior Court Judges received a 2.29% salary increase, effective July 1, 2024. To comply with the provisions of Section 2.100.270, it is necessary to amend the Table and Index of Classes to reflect this salary increase for members of the Board Supervisors retroactive to July 1, 2024.
It is also necessary to further amend the Table and Index of Classes to reflect this proposed amendment to Napa County Code Section 2.04.040 increasing the Board of Supervisors salary calculation percentage from 47.09% to 63%, effective 60 days from the date of this Board meeting.
The attached ordinance has been corrected to address two clerical changes that were discovered after the Board adopted its intent to consider the ordinance: (1) The effective date of the ordinance has been corrected to be November 23, 2024, not November 9, 2024; and (2) the reference to the date of the Superior Court Judges salary increase should have been July 1, 2024, not July 9, 2024. The attached ordinance includes the correct dates.
Requested Actions:
1. Adopt an Ordinance amending Title 2 (Administration and Personnel), Chapter 2.04 (Board of Supervisors), Article I, Section 2.04.040 (Salaries and Benefits) of the Napa County Code regarding salary rate calculation and adding language requiring a periodic salary review.
2. Adopt a Resolution to amend the Table and Index of Classes to reflect a salary increase for members of the Board of Supervisors effective July 1, 2024, and to further reflect the amendment of Section 2.04.040 increasing the Board of Supervisors salary calculation percentage from 47.09% to 63%, effective 60 days from the date of this Board meeting.
FISCAL & STRATEGIC PLAN IMPACT
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Is there a Fiscal Impact? |
Yes |
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Is it currently budgeted? |
Yes |
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Where is it budgeted? |
Board of Supervisors 10100-00 |
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Is it Mandatory or Discretionary? |
Discretionary |
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Discretionary Justification: |
Salary studies are regularly conducted to ensure County salaries are competitive. The Board of Supervisors classification has not been studied for 20 years and as a result has fallen approximately 30% below the market median. |
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Is the general fund affected? |
Yes |
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Future fiscal impact: |
The increased cost of salaries for the fiscal year is approximately $283,000. The annualized cost of salaries and benefits will be budgeted accordingly. |
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Consequences if not approved: |
The salary for the Board of Supervisors classification would continue to be below the market median, which is not aligned with the County’s compensation practices. Additionally, if the Resolution is not adopted, the County would be in violation of the County Code, which mandates the increased compensation for members of the Board of Supervisors. |
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
ENVIRONMENTAL DETERMINATION: The proposed action is not a project as defined by 14 California Code of Regulations 15378 (State CEQA Guidelines) and therefore CEQA is not applicable.