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Prosecutors, public defenders and caregivers urge Solano supervisors to approve higher wages to retain staff
Summary
At the March 10, 2026 meeting, multiple prosecutors, public defenders and home‑care providers asked the Solano County Board of Supervisors for higher pay, citing large wage gaps with neighboring counties, rising caseloads and recruitment difficulties; speakers urged negotiation of fair contracts and noted potential state and federal funding tied to wage increases.
A series of public commenters at the Solano County Board of Supervisors meeting on March 10 urged the board to approve higher wages for Unit 1 employees — including prosecutors, public defenders and in‑home service providers — warning that pay gaps have driven experienced personnel to leave.
Will Moser, a prosecutor who said he recently completed a four‑year rotation in a violent‑crimes unit, told the board the assignment "wears on you" and pleaded for equity raises so the office can retain and recruit experienced attorneys. "What's best for the victim to this community is making it so we can retain and recruit the best talent," Moser said.
Unit 1 representatives and public defender staff presented numerical comparisons: Costa Carastenzi (Unit 1 representative) said Unit 1 salaries are about 20% below Bay Area averages and 14–15% below neighboring counties, and argued that a county offer of 6% over three years would leave a growing gap compared with other counties that plan roughly 12% increases over that period. Carastenzi invited supervisors to review the data and offered to meet with members individually.
Several public defenders and attorneys echoed those concerns. Sayuri Takagawa (deputy alternate public defender) and Martin Malik (attorney, Public Defender's Office) said heavy caseloads and turnover undermine clients' access to experienced counsel and services for people with serious mental illness. A public defender, Ricky Estrada, recounted personal and community experiences in Solano County and urged a "fair contract." Speakers tied staffing stability to the county's ability to serve victims and vulnerable residents.
In home‑care providers also addressed compensation. Minerva Pena, an IHSS provider and member of the Local 2015 bargaining team, told the board that current in‑home service wages in Solano County are about $18.10 per hour and said the union’s latest proposal would bring significant state and federal funding to the county. "Every $1 you choose to contribute to caregiver wages brings 86¢ back to Solano County from state and federal funding sources," Pena said, and she estimated the county could receive more than $12,000,000 in outside funding over three years and generate roughly $4,000,000 in local spending (figures as quoted by the speaker).
Speakers repeatedly framed the request as a public‑safety and public‑service imperative rather than a purely budgetary demand, asking supervisors to weigh victims' and clients' access to experienced attorneys and caregivers when considering offers. The meeting record shows these comments were part of public comment; there was no on‑the‑record vote on wages at this meeting. Item 13 on the agenda did list closed‑session labor negotiations under Government Code §54957.6, indicating county negotiators and employee organizations would meet in closed session.
Board members acknowledged the concerns, and staff and supervisors indicated prior meetings had occurred between some supervisors and Unit 1 representatives. The board did not take public action on salaries at the meeting; the next scheduled regular meeting is March 24, 2026.
