The contracts began Jan. 1 and will continue through Dec. 31, 2022.
The 3 percent annual pay increase in the contracts was the same amount the commissioners approved Dec. 26 for nonunion county employees as part of the 2020 county appropriations. The 3 percent annual increase is the largest granted by the commissioners since the 2008-09 economic downturn. The commissioners said they thought it was important to increase employee pay to help keep from losing them to other counties and municipalities that may pay more.
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Sheriff Dave Duchak said the negotiations went "very well" and thanked the commissioners for the pay increase for employees. Beth Hull, administrative assistant at the Communication Center, echoed Duchak's remarks.
Commissioner Jack Evans said the contract negotiations were the "smoothest" in his 16 years on the commission.
It was unusual to have contract negotiations wrapped up before year's end, he said.
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