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Prosecutors and public defenders press board for pay equity to retain talent
Summary
County prosecutors, public defenders and union representatives urged the board to approve equity raises, saying Solano County pay lags neighboring Bay Area counties and staffing shortages risk service levels; speakers cited comparative gaps and recommended negotiation of better offers.
Multiple Unit 1 employees and representatives spoke during public comment on March 10 urging the Board of Supervisors to pursue wage adjustments that would retain prosecutors and public defenders.
Will Moser, a prosecutor in the district attorney's office, described the intensity of child‑victim prosecutions and said high caseloads and pay differentials have driven colleagues to neighboring counties. "I humbly ask you, the board, to do what's best for the victims in this county as well by giving our prosecutors the equity raises that they need and that they deserve," Moser said.
Representatives from Unit 1 and public defenders detailed staffing losses over the past three years and urged the county to keep pace with nearby jurisdictions. Costa Caristenzi, speaking for Unit 1, summarized wage comparisons provided to the board: "Unit 1 is 20% below the average wages for the Bay Area...we are 14 to 15% below those wages" in nearby counties and said the county offer on the table was 6% over three years compared with market moves of roughly 12% over three years.
Deputy alternate public defender Sayuri Takagawa and veteran public defender speakers said rising caseloads and departures have eroded institutional knowledge and called for timely negotiation of a fair contract. The speakers asked the board to meet with their team to review provided data and urged a solution that prevents further loss of experienced staff.
No board action was taken during public comment; the remarks serve as input to ongoing labor negotiations with county negotiators under government code provisions.
