Board raises social services director base wage, authorizes recruitment for vacant director post

The Plumas County Board of Supervisors on Oct. 7 approved changes to the social services director classification and authorized Human Resources to recruit for a funded, allocated 1.0 FTE social services director/public guardian/public conservator position.

Interim Human Resources Director Sarah James told the board the county found an internal equity gap: the behavioral health director and public health director positions were already paid at $58 per hour, while the social services director rate was $50 per hour despite similar education and experience requirements. County staff proposed raising the base wage for the social services director to $58 per hour to align compensation among health and human services leadership and to improve recruitment competitiveness.

Board members and a former county health official supported the correction as an equity issue; one board member said the county’s grand jury had previously recommended reviewing county compensation to improve recruitment and retention. The board passed the wage adjustment and authorized HR to recruit and fill the vacant position.

Funding and budgetary details were discussed as part of the HR update; staff said the change corrected an inequity and that recruitment would proceed under the county’s established hiring processes.

What happens next: Human Resources will advertise the position, accept applications and report back to the board on recruitment progress and appointment recommendations.