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Del Norte County adopts OPEB management policy; union urges bargaining before changes
Summary
The board adopted a 2025 OPEB management policy that allows for employer/employee cost‑sharing to prefund retiree health liabilities; Norma Williams of SEIU noted that any change to retiree premiums must be negotiated with bargaining units.
The Del Norte County Board of Supervisors voted to adopt a new OPEB (Other Post‑Employment Benefits) management policy intended to help address unfunded retiree health liabilities. The policy, prepared by the county’s financial advisory committee, allows for the possibility of prefunding liabilities and contemplates employer and employee cost‑sharing if and when negotiated.
Norma Williams, chapter president of the Del Norte County Employees Association (SEIU 1021), told the board she had reviewed the proposed policy and warned that any employee cost‑sharing measures would require negotiation with bargaining groups. Williams emphasized that retiree premiums and related benefits are governed by existing contract language and that the union and its members would scrutinize any shift toward percentage‑based employee contributions.
County staff and advisors told the board the policy does not yet contain a formal proposal for employee contributions and that bargaining would be required before any changes affecting benefits take effect. The board moved to adopt the policy by vote.
The county noted the action is a management policy to guide prefunding efforts and that specifics on contributions, if pursued, would be subject to collective bargaining.
