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Public Employee Relations Board seeks correction to budget reclassification and defends proposed FY26 funding
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Summary
The Public Employee Relations Board told the committee that a budget formulation error converted its executive director position to a term appointment and requested $8,396.59 to restore the regular classification; PERB said FY26 would preserve staffing and slightly reduce nonpersonnel services.
Royale Sims, executive director of the Public Employee Relations Board, told the Committee on Executive Administration and Labor that the agency’s FY26 proposed budget is $1,403,566, modestly below FY25, and that a formulation error converted the executive director position to a term appointment instead of a regular position.
Sims explained the error occurred during budget formulation when the position was vacant and he was serving in an acting capacity; the position historically had been regular. PERB requested committee support to reclassify the executive director back to a regular position and to add $8,396.59 to align salary and benefits.
Sims said PERB’s proposed budget continues eight full‑time employees and preserves funds for hearing examiners, mediators and training. He told the committee that approximately 80% of PERB’s budget is for personnel services, and that about $54,000 is allocated for hearing examiners and mediators in FY26. Sims said the board has expanded its roster of neutrals to reduce scheduling delays and provide both virtual and in‑person services.
Why this matters: PERB adjudicates labor disputes including unfair labor practice complaints and election oversight and supports labor‑management stability for the district workforce.
What the committee recorded: Councilmembers asked about the board’s vacancies, the importance of filling membership to avoid a bare quorum, and whether meeting fees and leasing costs were accurately budgeted. PERB confirmed its office lease is through DGS and that the FY26 personnel allocation excludes the $8,396.59 requested to restore the executive director classification.
Ending: Sims said PERB would recruit to fill an attorney advisor vacancy after the hiring freeze ends, and the agency asked the committee to support converting the executive director position back to regular status to reflect historical classification and compensation.
