Short of a rabbit from the hat, we don’t expect county employee raises

It’s a tough set of circumstances for Sutter County leaders ... might as well keep the talk as frank as possible

Sutter County employees feel they’re owed an increase in wages and benefits. One thing we’re positive they’re owed is frank talk ... and it’s probably not going to be pleasing.

Employees earlier this week were beseeched to remain patient concerning negotiations over wages and they might pleasantly surprised.

Supervisor Jim Whiteaker, who made the appeal, is hoping for the best, we’re sure. But what we’re really not sure about is how that could possibly be. Much is made about Sutter County’s financial condition ... we don’t see that improving to the point that wage increases could be proffered. Not any time soon.

It’s hard times for county employees, these last several years. If you’re of the mind, then those who are still employed are lucky to be. But the value of wages and benefits have probably in most cases gone down.

A story in the Wednesday edition outlined much angst on the subject of wages.

It seems to us there’s some dancing around the topic. If employees are patient, they might be pleased with the outcome, they’re told ... but, the county’s coffers are greatly challenged, it’s reported, and employees can look at the recently approved budget – largest ever – which included no raises.

Contract negotiations haven’t yielded what employees were hoping for. It’s been more than a couple months since a employment contract was in place.

So do employees need encouraging statements or frank discussions about grim realities? A member of the Sutter County Deputy Sheriff’s Association addressed the supervisors earlier in the week, noting that communications have broken down and deputies have been patient for long enough, hoping to make up for lost ground.

She said that the department is known around the region as a “training ground.” That means that the county spends good money training up new law enforcement officers; and then, as soon as they can, those employees accept much higher paying positions in surrounding counties.

It’s not just public safety positions – most rank and file county employees have been patient for a decade. We don’t blame them for feeling impatient.

At the same time, we realize that supervisors and administrators are dealing with limited revenue and rising costs for CALPERS and insurance and just about everything else.

Short of county administration pulling a big rabbit from a hat, we’re not guessing employees will be well pleased. And we don’t know there’s any fault to be assigned or any prospects short-term.

We’re just saying, cut to the chase.