Special Notice / Hearing: None__
Vote Required: Majority
To: Honorable Board of Supervisors
From: Michelle Kuka, Interim Human Resources Director
Subject: Successor Agreement to the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Deputy Sheriff’s Association (DSA)
RECOMMENDATION:
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Adopt a resolution approving the Tentative Agreement establishing the terms and conditions of a successor agreement to the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Deputy Sheriff’s Association (DSA) for the term of January 11, 2026 through January 13, 2029.
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BACKGROUND:
The County’s current Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Deputy Sheriff’s Association (DSA) expired on January 10, 2026. The County and DSA have met and conferred in good faith and have concluded negotiations for a new successor Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). Both parties have agreed to the terms as described in the Tentative Agreement. The DSA membership has ratified the County’s offer set forth in the Tentative Agreement.
DISCUSSION:
This Agreement covers all of the staff in classifications represented by DSA. The following is a high-level summary of the major changes but is not a substitute for the attached agreement and the detailed terms contained therein.
Term
January 11, 2026 through January 13, 2029 (three years).
Salary Adjustment
Classifications in this bargaining unit will receive Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) increases as follows: From January 2026 through January 2028, classifications in this bargaining unit will continue to receive salary increases based on an annual survey of comparators, provided that the pay increases established based on the salary survey shall not exceed the following:
2026: 8.0%
2027: 3.0%
2028: 3.0%.
The 2028 COLA shall be increased by an additional 1%, for a total potential COLA adjustment of 4%, if legislation is signed to ensure that San Mateo County receives its full Vehicle License Fee (VLF) Adjustment Amount under the Revenue and Taxation Code.
Experience Pay
Employees will receive an additional 0.5% of experience pay once they reach eight years of County service and an additional 0.25% of experience pay once they reach twelve years of County service. This will also increase the subsequent experience pay tiers.
Medical Plan changes
The County will increase the County’s contribution towards the medical plan premiums for the Aetna HMO plans by 5%. The County’s contribution will now be 90% and an employee’s contribution will now be 10%. Additionally, from the first pay period in January 2027 until the first full pay period in January 2029, the County will contribute $59 per month as a “Premium Only” contribution to each benefit-eligible employee’s Section 125 account to be used for premium expenses.
Other economic changes
Employees represented by DSA will begin to receive two Wellness Days each fiscal year that they can use as floating holidays.
The bilingual pay for employees in this bargaining unit will increase from $70 per pay period to $90 per pay period.
The County Attorney has reviewed and approved the resolution as to form.
Financial Impact on County’s Retirement System
Government Code Section 31515.5 requires the County to provide the estimated financial impact that proposed benefit changes or salary increases would have on the funding status of SamCERA’s retirement fund, the County’s retirement system. As reflected in the attached letter from SamCERA’s actuary, Milliman, the proposed salary and benefit increases for the DSA employees is estimated to be an increase in the Unfunded Actuarial Accrued Liability (UAAL) of $7,704,000 and an increase in the annual employer contribution rate of 0.16% of total member payroll. However, there will be a decrease in the PEPRA Safety member contribution rate of 0.03% of pay. (Note that this is the impact on SamCERA funding only, so it does not reflect the cost to the County of implementing the proposed MOU.) While the UAAL of SamCERA will be higher by this amount, the funded ratio, rounded to the nearest 0.01%, is estimated to decrease by 0.09% as a result of these wage increases and other changes.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The cost of the salary and other changes will result in a net increase of approximately $9,525,000 for the first year of the new Memorandum of Understanding.