It’s been a tough round of negotiations over the past 16 months but the Deputy Sheriff’s Association finally has a new contract with the County, approved yesterday by the County Commissioners.
It’s a one-year collective bargaining contract with no change in Deputies base wage of $65,452 but they’ll see increases in several special areas. Night shifts receive an additional $1 per hour and, when on call, the Deputy receives $2 per hour when scheduled. Special duty pay increases are also included.
Flathead County Deputy Sheriff’s Association’s Charles Pesola tells us our Sheriff, at $87,154, earns less than several of the largest counties and that, he says, means less for his Deputies. What’s needed, he says, is an effective Cost-of-Living adjustment that’ll help keep pace with changing economic conditions.
According to 2020 U.S. Census, Flathead County has grown more than 15% since 2010. The Flathead County Sheriff covers 5,280 square miles with 64 sworn deputies.
This contract expires at the end of this year.
