San Juan County Council on Dec. 23 ratified a collective bargaining agreement reached with the San Juan County Deputy Sheriff's Guild covering 2025 and 2026 and approved a separate resolution adopting county staffing levels and 2025 pay and benefit plans.

Mark Tompkins, filling in as interim county manager, summarized that negotiations with the deputy sheriff's guild concluded successfully and that the ratified agreement and related pay-scale exhibits (including sheriff's guild scales and non-represented staff scales) are attached to the resolution. "We entered into negotiations with the sheriff's guild in early fall of 2025, and have successfully concluded those negotiations," Tompkins said while presenting the resolution.

Councilmembers thanked staff negotiators, including Kim Ott and Jessica Hudson, and expressed confidence in the process. The council then moved, seconded and adopted the resolution by voice vote.

The council also approved the annual resolution setting position counts, pay scales and benefit offerings for 2025, noting attachments that include position counts by department and benefit overviews tied to the state's PEBB program. Councilmember Cindy Lipps said she was glad to support county staff and commended the package as comprehensive.

Both actions were adopted by council voice vote; the meeting record indicates the motions were seconded and carried. Council indicated these approvals will position county departments and represented staff for the 2025 budget year.