Commissioners approve Collective Bargaining Agreement with Sheriff’s Employees

The Fernley Reporter

The Board of Lyon County Commissioners on Thursday approved a two-year collective bargaining agreement with the Lyon County Sheriff’s Employees Association beginning July 1, 2017 and ending June 30, 2019.

County Manager Jeff Page said the revised agreement will cost the county an estimated $334,458 more than the existing contract in the first year of the contract and an additional $165,171 more in the second year. The unbudgeted amount in fiscal year 2017-2018 is $146,762, which is recommended to be funded from a contingency transfer.

The revised agreement has the following changes:

• Increase the salary schedules by 1 percent on July 1, 2017 and 1.5 percent on July 1, 2018. This matches the scheduled increases for employees in the Lyon County Employees Association.
• Change shift differential pay to reduce eligible hours to be from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. and to be increased a flat amount of $2. Previously, shift pay was $0.75 per hour for swing and $1.00 per hour for graveyard and overlap and overtime shift pay was $1.25 per hour for swing and $1.50 for graveyard and overlap.
• Eliminate sick leave and service connected disability leave in the computation of hours eligible for overtime.
• Clarifying the holiday paid language to match existing practice.
• Add educational incentive payments for degrees obtained. An Associate’s degree in criminal justice would be paid $250 per year. A Bachelor’s degree would qualify for $500 per year. A Master’s Degree would be paid $750 per year.
• Increase the sick leave payout upon retirement. The maximum payout would be as follows: 10-15 years of service – increased from $2,000 to $5,000; 15–20 years of service increased from $2,500 to $6,000; 20–25 years of service increased from $3,000 to $7,000; more than 25 years of service increased from $3,500 to $8,000.
• Change the way the uniform allowance is paid. New employees will no longer be provided with specified uniform items; but instead will receive an allowance of $1,600 to purchase their own uniform items. Existing employees will no longer be paid $200 per quarter plus replacement of a certain number of uniform items each year; but instead will receive an allowance of $500 per quarter and will take care of their own uniform item replacements.
• Change from payment for a weapon to issuing a weapon. Instead of paying $350 towards the purchase of a weapon, the new contract will have the County issue a standard weapon, holster and magazine pouch for each employee.

The Board of County Commissioners unanimously voted to approve the agreement. The Agreement is effective July 1, 2017.