Chautauqua County is looking to authorize a new labor contract with its Deputy Sheriff’s Association.

According to Human Services Director Jean Riley, the current contract is set to expire Dec. 31. The county’s negotiation team has proposed a new four-year agreement. The union has voted on the proposed contract and unanimously approved it.

In terms of pay, the contact calls for a 3% wage increase in 2022, a 3% wage increase in 2023, a 2.5% increase in 2024, and a 2.5% increase in 2025. The proposed contract also calls for modifications to a step increment, modifications to longevity, modifications to employer and employee cost share of the health plan, and modifications to the retiree cash-out benefit.

The contract would cover 66 sheriff’s deputies.

“With the wage increases and the step adjustment, and the longevity modifications, we really looked at the market data. We had 11 other local police departments in other counties comprised the 11 units and we looked at their salaries. Chautauqua County was at the bottom in longevity compared to the other counties and local police departments. We were in the bottom three in overall wages,” said Riley during the county Legislature’s Administrative Services Committee meeting. “The goal was really try to get the wages (up). We’re not going to be the highest paying county. We had discussions about that.

See SHERIFF, Page A3

That wasn’t the goal, but we would like to be more in line with some of the other local counties and police departments.”

Riley said by increasing wages, it will help attract and retain officers. “We’ve seen a huge decline in applicants taking the exams. Right now we had 10 people in the county that are in the academy and that’s the trickle down effect. Probably all 10 of those won’t make it through the academy, which means we will have a severe shortage in the entry level rank of the Sheriff’s Department. The main goal was to try to get the wages more in line so that we can attract and retain the officers that we hire,” she said.

According to Riley, in 2022 the federal government is expecting a 2.7% increase in 2022 for government enforcement agencies and private employers are projecting a 3% increase. “We’re really not that far out of line throughout the four years of the contract. We would be attempting to try and get that salary level a little bit closer to an average wage,” she said.

Budget Director Kitty Crow stated that this proposal would impact the county’s budget by about $1.5 million over the course of the four-year contract. She added, “The 3% and the 3% are consistent with other recently ratified contracts and then it goes to 2.5% in the later years.”

Legislator John Davis, R-Frewsburg, expressed his support for the contract. “I just appreciate the due diligence you’ve done in checking with 11 different bargaining units and other departments to make sure that we are not only in line but competitive as we would need to be to retain quality personnel in the department,” he said.

Legislator Christine Starks, D-Fredonia, also expressed her support. “Thank you for looking at both ends with bringing young in and protecting the experienced with their final average. It’s appreciated,” she said.

Legislator Bob Scudder, R-Fredonia, thanked Riley for having the proposal before the legislature now, instead of waiting until the end of the yaer. “I really appreciate this being take care of before the expiration. We’re used to having the kind of threat of someone else settling it or whatever. I don’t like that pressure. I don’t think anybody likes that pressure,” he said.

The Administrative Services Committee unanimously backed the contract. The resolution heads to the full legislature for final approval. That meeting will take place Aug. 25.