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By DEANNE JOHNSON
Staff Writer
LISBON -- County Commissioners on Wednesday authorized Sheriff Brian McLaughlin to enter into a new three-year contract with the members of the local Fraternal Order of Police Union, which includes the deputies and dispatchers in his department.
Jeremy Iosue, the labor attorney representing the sheriff's office, detailed that the contract adds additional steps for deputies that remain with the department during their first five years and in general amounts to about a 3 percent increase for those in each step. There also will be 3 percent increases across the board in 2023 and 2024.
Additionally, those holding the rank of detective will now receive 5 percent more than deputies on the road. Those with ranks of sergeant or lieutenant receive 10 percent more than the rank below them.
The starting wages are increasing as well, as McLaughlin said they are trying to remain competitive with other departments in the area. A new road deputy's wage will be $20.70 per hour, a wage that was $18.47 per hour. After their fifth year, the hourly wage will be $28.72.
Dispatcher's starting wages are increasing from $17.66 per hour to $19.11 per hour with a dispatcher making $23.75 per hour after their fifth year.
According to Iosue, the new contract has language that puts a cap on comp time and provides a vouchers system for uniform allowances, instead of just writing a check. The new contract also clarifies seniority language.
Overtime costs have increased for the sheriff's office this year. Just additional overtime for transporting and remaining with prisoners at area hospitals for medical treatment has more than doubled from around $19,000 in 2020 to $55,141 as of Dec. 12, according to McLaughlin. He hopes changes to the contract may help alleviate some of the increasing costs.
"We hope it decreases overtime and makes it easier to recruit and retain employees," McLaughlin said, adding in the past some deputies have taken as much as a $5 per hour paycut to come to the sheriff's office from another department.
"It's all about staying competitive even with a shrinking labor market," Iosue added.
Iosue said this is the sixth contract he has negotiated with Columbiana County Sheriff's FOP and this time negotiations were cordial with everyone seeming to be on the same page.
The contract is expected to increase the costs of operating the sheriff's office by between $100,000 and $120,000 over the next year.
djohnson@mojonews.com