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Skamania County commissioners approve tiered mechanic positions; implementation contingent on union approval
Summary
The Skamania County Board approved revisions to mechanic and lead mechanic job classifications to create a three-tiered mechanic progression. The change is effective March 16 pending union sign-off and is intended to improve recruitment and career advancement.
Skamania County commissioners voted to approve revisions to the county's mechanic and lead mechanic positions, creating a three-tiered job progression intended to provide hiring flexibility and clearer advancement steps.
The change, moved and seconded during the March 18 meeting, would convert the single mechanic classifications into Mechanic 1 (range 20), Mechanic 2 (range 21) and Mechanic 3 (range 22). The public works director said the change will allow the county to hire at lower entry points and give employees room to advance into higher-paid tiers. The director asked for an effective date of March 16, but said the new structure will only take effect after the union completes its internal review and steward discussion.
The measure matters, county staff and commissioners said, because the county's current step system leaves employees with limited pay growth after roughly 3½ years. Commissioners and public works staff noted recruiting pressure from private-sector employers and other counties; the public works director told the board that the current range 20 top step pays about $64,000 and the highest tier's top step about $70,000.
Discussion included whether re-opening pay ranges now would trigger countywide contract negotiations. County staff said using the established PERB (PERK) comparables is required for negotiations and that reopening ranges for bargaining would expose the entire contract. Commissioners indicated they preferred studying broader pay adjustments during the regular budget cycle rather than reopening the contract now.
The motion passed by voice vote. A formal effective date and implementation schedule — including job descriptions, advertising, and the union-approval milestone — will be finalized by staff once union approval is received.
