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Board corrects Senior Deputy District Attorney—fs contract grade after debate on pay equity
Summary
Supervisors approved an amendment adjusting the senior deputy district attorney—fs contract grade amid debate over internal equity and whether the appointee should be placed at a higher step to avoid pay compaction with subordinate staff.
The Inyo County Board of Supervisors on March 25 ratified an amendment to the personal services contract for Senior Deputy District Attorney David Christiansen that updates his salary grade and step, after an extended discussion about internal pay equity and whether to set the position at a higher step.
Staff presented a management-resolution update (Res. 2025-08) and related contract actions: authorization for an Assistant Auditor-Controller contract (Courtney Girardin) and an amendment to the senior deputy district attorney contract. The amendment set Christiansen at grade 24, step E, with a monthly salary of $12,836.93. District Attorney Dana Crom urged a higher placement at step F to address what she described as compaction between the senior deputy and the deputy-4 position Christiansen supervises, noting Christiansen has more than 30 years of prosecutorial experience.
Board members debated transparency, budget impact, and countywide equity. Staff explained the implementation of a countywide comparable-pay study (Evergreen) produced career-ladder and step changes that benefited represented employees differently than at-will contract employees. Several supervisors said correcting an apparent error in the contract was appropriate, while others urged additional budget-stage review of broader attorney-series parity. One supervisor moved to approve the recommended option (step E); the motion passed on a voice vote.
The board also authorized a personal services contract for Courtney Girardin as assistant auditor-controller (grade 20 step C, $9,678.41/month) and updated the management resolution accordingly.
Staff noted a fiscal-impact figure for the current fiscal year (January through June) tied to the contract amendment; the presentation described a $45,000 figure as the total salary and benefits cost for the covered months, which prompted clarifying questions from board members about whether that number represented full pay vs. incremental increase. County administration and personnel staff said most of the $45,000 figure was already budgeted and that the fiscal delta for the amendment itself was smaller.
Board members asked staff to bring back any broader parity adjustments during the upcoming budget process and to provide the data supporting different lawyer classifications before making further changes.
