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Public defenders and prosecutors urge board to address attrition, criticize bargaining process
Summary
Multiple public defenders and district attorneys told the board the county’s contract negotiations left their offices understaffed and that compensation comparisons used by the county were flawed. Union representatives warned a modest offer will not prevent turnover and urged the board to revisit equity adjustments.
Several members of Solano County’s criminal-justice workforce used the public-comment period on March 24 to warn supervisors of acute staffing losses tied to pay and negotiation disputes.
Nick Folloy, a deputy public defender with 20 years’ service, said the office’s workforce is getting younger because attorneys leave for better paying neighboring counties: "The average age of our misdemeanor lawyers is 27 and the average age of our felony attorneys is 34," he told the board, saying attrition has turned Solano into a "farm system" for surrounding counties.
Rick Estrada and Renee Haas added specifics about contract negotiation problems. Estrada said the county’s compensation study used comparators the union had not agreed to and that the county never met and conferred as the side letter required. "That comp compensation study forced us to contend with... it's flawed," he said. Haas, a deputy district attorney and union steward, said Solano is behind Bay Area comparators—"we're 20% behind" among the nine Bay Area counties—and that homicide caseloads make retention especially important; she said unpaid overtime runs into thousands of hours annually for staff.
Costa Caristenzi, a union representative, said the county’s offer (described in public comment as 6% over three years) will not prevent further attrition and urged supervisors to consider a reasonable equity increase to retain attorneys. Speakers also reminded the board that appointing outside counsel for serious cases can cost the county substantially more than retaining experienced in‑house staff.
Board members acknowledged staffing pressures and said they expect to continue bargaining and to consider the data presented by unions as they finalize labor agreements.
