County committee approves night-shift differential, advances wage-scale changes for on-call deputies and transport officers

Vernon County’s Personnel & Finance Committee on Jan. 8 approved pay changes affecting correctional officers, 9‑1‑1 dispatchers and on‑call law-enforcement personnel.

Lede: The committee approved a night‑shift differential that mirrors the union deputies’ existing 50¢ per hour night premium and voted to adjust wage placements for deputy reserves and transport officers, sending both items to the full county board for final action.

Nut graf: The night‑shift differential applies to correctional officers and dispatchers who work between 5 p.m. and 5 a.m. The wage‑scale adjustments move on‑call personnel to consistent starting steps so they are paid comparably to active staff performing the same duties; the committee also removed a one‑year “after 1 year” step provision so that on‑call deputies start at the designated beginning step.

What the committee decided: The committee took a motion to recommend formal adoption of a department‑specific policy establishing the 50¢ night differential for correctional officers and dispatchers. The committee then discussed a separate resolution to revise the on‑call wage placements for deputy reserves and transport officers; staff recommended placing transport officers at pay grade I, step 1 and setting on‑call deputy reserves at the full‑time starting wage (consistent with the union scale starting rate). Committee members agreed to modify the drafted resolution language so the change would be clearly stated as a starting wage (removing an “after 1 year” phrasing) and to forward the corrected resolution to the county board.

Votes at a glance: The meeting used voice vote for both items. The night‑shift differential motion passed by voice vote; the committee also approved the amended resolution for on‑call deputies/transport placement and forwarded it to the full board. The minutes record unanimous “ayes” during voice voting; no roll‑call tallies were recorded in the transcript.

Why it matters: Committee members said the changes address pay equity and staffing shortages in roles that must cover overnight operations or be available on call. Several members noted the on‑call workers do not receive pension or benefit package elements while performing similar work, so moving them to the starting wage on the county scale standardizes base pay without granting full-time benefits.

Next steps: Staff will redraft the resolution language consistent with the committee’s edits and forward it to the full county board for formal adoption. The committee noted union members may raise questions about parity; if they do, the union can address the matter in future negotiations.

Ending: The committee sent both pay items on to the full board; implementation will follow formal board action and any needed administrative updates.