El Dorado Supervisors Advance Pay Raise as Sheriff’s Budget Trimmed by $4 Million
The El Dorado County Board of Supervisors voted 4-1 in February to take the first formal steps toward increasing their own compensation by 7%, even as they reduced the recommended budget of the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office by approximately $4 million for the upcoming fiscal year.
If finalized after a required second reading, supervisors’ salaries would increase from roughly $82,896 to $85,380 annually. The initial vote occurred Feb. 10 and amended Section 2.06.020 of the county’s ordinance code. Under state law, the raise would take effect 60 days after final adoption, likely in late April or early May.
Supervisors Lori Parlin, Brooke Laine, George Turnboo and Greg Ferrero supported the proposal. Supervisor Brian Veerkamp cast the lone dissenting vote.
Sheriff’s Budget Continues Long-Term Growth
The Sheriff’s Office General Fund budget for FY 2025-26 is recommended at $112,552,200 — a 4.9% increase over the prior year’s adopted figure, according to county budget documents. The Board’s reduction trims roughly $4 million from the department’s initial request in an effort to maintain fiscal stability amid slowing revenue growth.
Over the past decade, the Sheriff’s budget has climbed steadily:
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FY 2016-17 Adopted: $75,846,061
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FY 2017-18 Adopted: $79,092,341
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FY 2018-19 Recommended: $83,212,500
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FY 2019-20 Recommended: $88,150,000
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FY 2020-21 Recommended: $93,425,000
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FY 2021-22 Adopted: $99,022,142
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FY 2022-23 Recommended: $107,659,629
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FY 2023-24 Adopted: $105,431,811
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FY 2024-25 Adopted: $107,320,961
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FY 2025-26 Recommended: $112,552,200
Much of the increase over the decade is attributed to capital projects, including the new Sheriff’s headquarters funded by a $57 million USDA loan and the ongoing Placerville Jail Expansion, which accounts for $34.7 million in the current recommended year.
Personnel costs remain another primary driver. The FY 2025-26 proposal includes a $3.55 million increase in salaries and benefits for the Sheriff’s Office, along with an additional $1.16 million in rising CalPERS employer contributions.
Countywide Staffing Reduced
The adopted staffing level for FY 2025-26 totals 2,004.48 full-time equivalent positions across all county departments — a net reduction of 39.2 FTEs. The decrease includes 11 filled positions and 28.2 vacant positions, marking the first overall staffing decline since FY 2017-18.
Despite the reductions, the Sheriff’s Office continues recruiting for critical roles, particularly in Central Dispatch, which has operated below 50% of funded staffing levels. Current recruitments include Deputy Sheriff II, Correctional Officer I, Public Safety Dispatcher I/II and Security Officer I/II.
Approximately 76% of the Sheriff’s Office funding derives from the county General Fund. The remainder comes from special revenue sources such as the Supplemental Law Enforcement Services Fund and Public Safety Realignment allocations.
Section 504 Expansion Draws Attention
During the same budget cycle, the board expanded application of Charter Section 504 beyond public safety classifications to include all county employees. Section 504 ties salary adjustments for certain executive leadership positions — including the county’s chief administrative officer and county counsel — to compensation changes negotiated with deputy sheriffs.
Critics have described the mechanism as an “autopilot” provision because it does not require a separate public vote when triggered by negotiated labor increases.
Debate Over Supervisor Compensation
Supervisors defending the proposed raise cited regional compensation comparisons and workload demands.
A county human resources study found El Dorado supervisors’ pay was approximately 40% below the median of comparable counties, including Sacramento, Placer, Yolo and Napa.
Supporters also argued the adjustment aligns with recent negotiated raises for other county employees.
“This position is far more than part-time,” supervisors said during deliberations, emphasizing evening meetings, constituent services and regional coordination responsibilities.
Opponents countered that approving raises during a structurally unbalanced budget sends the wrong signal. Labor representatives have noted that some frontline workers earn less than the supervisors’ current hourly equivalent of about $40.
Regional and Income Context
On a raw salary basis, the proposed $85,380 would remain below neighboring Placer County Board of Supervisors compensation levels, where supervisors earn approximately $114,545 annually. However, per capita comparisons differ due to population size.
El Dorado County’s estimated 2026 population stands at roughly 193,589 residents. Median household income locally is approximately $108,845, ranking among the higher income counties in California.
The board will formally consider final adoption of both the budget and compensation ordinance later in the fiscal cycle. Traditionally, the county reviews the Recommended Budget in June and approves the Adopted Budget in September, incorporating updated fund balances and state revenue adjustments.
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“Last Friday, about 60 members of the El Dorado County community, including those employed by the County, engaged in an informational picket near the Board of Supervisors office. Workers represented by Operating Engineers Local 3, who plow snow, answer 911 dispatch calls, maintain the roads and much more, have been without a contract since July 1, 2024. The El Dorado County Board of Supervisors is saying they are broke, and yet they have been providing certain highly paid elected officials and non-peace officers automatic raises, while the rallying workers have not received a single cost-of-living adjustment or salary increases since July 2023. It is time the County made the rank-and-file employees a priority and provided wages that employees can actually live on. Taxpayers, other union groups and residents of this area have joined Hold El Dorado County Accountable, a coalition that is demanding the County do right by its workers and the members of this community by being transparent and forthright. Contact the El Dorado County Board of Supervisors and tell them to stop the automatic pay increases and get these workers a fair contract.”
