Placer County, deputies still at odds after judge tosses voter-approved formula for pay raises

A Placer County court has ruled in a bitter dispute between county leadership and the union representing its sheriff’s deputies over pay raises and benefits for county law enforcement.

Earlier this month, Placer Superior Court Judge Trisha Hirashima ruled in favor of the county, nullifying the voter-approved Measure F, a ballot measure adopted in 1977 that required the Board of Supervisors to set base pay by calculating the average salaries given to deputies in Nevada, El Dorado and Sacramento counties.

Measure F was the standard for labor negotiations with the Deputy Sheriffs’ Association for 40 years.

The court deemed the measure unconstitutional from its inception. Hirashima also decided that the law was overruled by the county’s charter that gives supervisors the final say over pay negotiations.

Prior to the court’s ruling May 2 against the union, which brought the suit, the issue had been boiling over for years.

In 2020, Placer County put forth in bargaining that the Measure F formula for wage increases could no longer be sustained and sought to override it, according to court documents.

The county said if Measure F had continued, it would have resulted in 18% higher salaries for Placer deputies than comparable jurisdictions, county spokesperson Chris Gray-Garcia said.

The county had previously put it to voters in 2002 and 2006, but voters rejected the repeal of Measure F on both occasions.

The Deputy Sheriff’s Association argued that to do away with Measure F without voters’ consent was in violation of the law and voters’ rights.

During contract negotiations in 2021, the county offered deputies a 7% wage increase that exceeded the formula used by Measure F. But the county’s proposal also gave the county power to eliminate some benefits plans, which the Deputy Sheriffs’ Association said was unlawful.

Negotiations two years ago reached an impasse, and the union filed its lawsuit, alleging the county was attempting to “circumvent the voters,” according to court documents.

The judge rejected the Deputy Sheriff’s Association complaint, ruling that Measure F did not need to be repealed by voters. She also said the county had the power to do away with it to negotiate a new labor contract with the deputies.

“The men and women of the Placer County Deputy Sheriffs’ Association are disappointed in the court’s ruling,” said Travis Thornsberry, president of the association. “We feel this is a very complex matter and more importantly involves the rights of citizens to direct democracy. The representatives of the association intend to appeal the decision.”

Following the ruling, the county extended its final offer to the union to increase wages 9%.

“We hope this opens a fresh chapter in negotiations with the Deputy Sheriffs’ Association, starting with a strong salary offer in recognition of the excellent work of our law enforcement professionals,” said Supervisor Jim Holmes, who chairs the board. “Our goals remain for Placer County to be highly competitive for top law enforcement talent — with public safety as a critical priority.”