Orange County Sheriff’s Department deputies are set to receive an immediate 8% raise with additional pay increases over the next three years under a new contract estimated to cost the county $150 million over the next three years.

The contract, approved by the OC Board of Supervisors on Tuesday, will give deputies an additional 5% increase in 2024 to their base salaries and an additional 4% raise in 2025. The new contract covers the period beginning June 30, 2023 through June 25, 2026.

Second District Supervisor Vicente Sarmiento opposed the contract, saying he believes deputy sheriffs do an incredible job throughout the county, however finds the pay amounts to be “excessive” compared to raises given to other county departments.

“I think there’s a disproportionate amount that was provided here. I completely understand and respect that the job is different and the job is difficult, but I also see that they’re at the top of the range compared to other peer counties,” Sarmiento said. “I do really appreciate the fact that since I’ve been here in the county, we’ve treated all of our labor units fairly consistent and I think we’re almost done with negotiating with most of them. But I cannot support this amount.”

The raises are going to 2,100 deputies and staff covered by the contract. The department’s managers also negotiated a new contract, for the same timeframe, with similar raises.

Contract negotiators also reached agreements about premium pay – the additional income that deputies who have specialty jobs earn. For example, an officer assigned to the hazardous devices or explosive detection squads gets premium pay for that or certain employees, such as sergeants and investigators, can also receive additional pay for being bilingual.

The last contract for the deputies negotiated in 2019 raised pay 14% over its lifespan and was also estimated to cost the county about $150 million.

The Sheriff’s Department provides police services for the county and is contracted by 13 cities to provide local policing, including Aliso Viejo, Dana Point, Laguna Hills, Laguna Niguel, Lake Forest, Laguna Woods, Mission Viejo, Rancho Santa Margarita, San Clemente, San Juan Capistrano, Stanton, Villa Park and Yorba Linda.

Fifth District Supervisor Katrina Foley said she is a strong advocate for ensuring that law enforcement receive competitive pay and benefits.

“It’s harder and harder to hire law enforcement personnel, and we have a cost of living issue. A lot of our deputies are forced to live out of the area and then commute. And then that is actually not a very good situation for us because of exhaustion, etcetera,” Foley said. “So I do think that we need to continue to stay competitive in terms of our recruitment and have a sustainable plan.”

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