5.1 Salary Ranges
The salary ranges for all employees in the aforementioned representation units will be as set forth in the Exhibits which are attached hereto and made a part hereof.
The rates of pay set forth in the Exhibits represent for each classification the standard biweekly rate of pay for full-time employment, unless the schedule specifically indicates otherwise. The rates of pay set forth in the Exhibits represent the total compensation due employees, except for overtime compensation and other benefits specifically provided for by the Board of Supervisors or by this MOU.
The rates of pay set forth in the Exhibits do not include reimbursement for actual and necessary expenses for traveling, subsistence, and general expenses authorized and incurred incident to County employment.
As reflected in the Exhibits, salaries shall be adjusted as follows.
Effective the first full pay period following Board of Supervisors’ approval of a successor MOU in 2024, there shall be a five percent (5%) cost of living adjustment for all represented classifications.
Effective October 12, 2025, there shall be a five percent (5%) cost of living adjustment for all represented classifications.
Effective October 11, 2026, there shall be a four percent (4%) cost of living adjustment for all represented classifications.
The October 2026 cost of living adjustment shall be increased by an additional one percent (1%), for a total cost of living adjustment of five percent (5%) under the following circumstances:
- 1. not later than October 1, 2026, the State Legislature enacts and the Governor signs legislation to ensure that San Mateo County receives its full Vehicle License Fee Adjustment Amount under Revenue & Taxation Code 97.70, as calculated under the laws in existence as of the date of this MOU, on an ongoing basis (i.e., without any sunset provision), and
- 2. Neither the VLF bill nor any companion legislation contains any offsets, reductions or limits to other County funding sources (e.g., a reduction excess or returned Educational Revenue Augmentation Fund amounts).
5.2 Entrance Salary
Except as herein otherwise provided, the entrance salary for a new employee entering County service shall be the minimum salary for the class to which they are appointed. When circumstances warrant, the Human Resources Director may upon recommendation of the department head approve an entrance salary which is more than the minimum salary. The Director’s decision shall be final. Such a salary may not be more than the maximum salary for the class to which the employee is appointed unless such salary is designated as a “Y” rate by the Board of Supervisors.
5.3 Salary Step Increases
Permanent and probationary employees serving in regular established positions shall be considered by the appointing authority on their salary anniversary dates for advancement to the next higher step in the salary schedule for their respective classes based on hours served in that classification as defined below. A step shall be defined as 5.74%, and all references to a “step” in this agreement are understood to equate to 5.74%. All increases shall be effective at the beginning of the next full pay period. Salary range adjustments for a classification will not set a new salary anniversary date for employees serving in that classification.
(1) After completion of 1040 regular hours of satisfactory service in Step A of the salary schedule, and upon recommendation of the appointing authority, the employee shall be advanced to the next higher step in the salary schedule for the classification. If an employee is appointed at a step higher than the first step of the salary range for that class, the first merit increase shall be after completion of 2080 regular hours of satisfactory service.
(2) After the completion of 2080 regular hours of satisfactory service in each of the salary steps above A, and upon recommendation of the appointing authority, the employee shall be advanced to the next higher step in the salary schedule for the classification until the top of the range is reached.
(3) If an operating department verifies in writing that an administrative or clerical error was made in failing to submit the documents needed to advance an employee to the next salary step on the first pay period when eligible, said advancement shall be made retroactive to the first pay period when eligible. This section also applies to fully flexibly staffed promotions in which case the advancement shall be made retroactive to the first pay period when approved by the appointing authority.
(4) When recommended by the appointing authority and approved by Human Resources Director, employees may receive special merit increases at intervals other than those specified in this Section. The Director’s decision shall be final. Changes in an employee’s salary due to promotion, upward reclassification, postponement of salary step increase, or special merit increase will set a new salary anniversary date for that employee.
(5) If an employee completes the 1040 or 2080 hours in the middle of a pay period, the employee shall be eligible for an increase as follows:
a. If the merit increase period is completed during the first week of a pay period the increase will be effective with the start of the then current pay period.
b. If the merit increase period is completed during the second week of a pay period the increase will be effective with the start of the next pay period.
5.4 Salary Anniversary Dates
Employees who are rejected during the probationary period and revert to their former classification shall return to the salary anniversary date held in the former class unless otherwise determined by the Human Resources Director. The salary anniversary date for an employee shall not be affected by a transfer, downward reclassification or a demotion.
A permanent employee accepting provisional employment in a higher or different class in the County Classified Service, who reverts to the former classification, shall retain the salary anniversary date in the former class on the same basis as if there had been no such provisional appointment.
Upon recommendation of the appointing authority and approval by the Human Resources Director, provisional, temporary and extra-help employees shall be advanced to the next higher step in the salary schedule upon completion of the periods of service prescribed in this Section, provided that their service has been satisfactory. Also, continuous service in provisional, temporary, or extra-help capacity shall be added to service in a regular established position for the purpose of determining an employee’s salary anniversary date, eligibility for salary increases, as well as vacation and sick leave accrual.
However, such service may not be added if it preceded a period of over 28 consecutive calendar days during which the employee was not in a pay status, except by approval of the Human Resources Director or except when the employee is absent from their position by reason of an injury or disease for which they are entitled to and currently receiving Employees’ Compensation benefits.
5.5 Salary Step When Salary Range is Revised
Whenever the salary range for a class is revised, each incumbent in a position to which the revised schedule applies shall remain at the same step as in the previous range, unless otherwise specifically provided by the Board of Supervisors.
5.6 Salary Step After Promotion
When an employee is promoted from a position in one class to a position in a higher class and at the time of promotion is receiving a base salary equal to, or greater than, the minimum base rate for the higher class, that employee shall be entitled to the next step in the salary schedule of the higher class which is at least one step above the rate they have been receiving, except that the next step shall not exceed the maximum salary of the higher class.
5.7 Salary Step After Demotion
When an employee is demoted, whether such demotion is voluntary or otherwise, that employee’s compensation shall be adjusted to the salary prescribed for the class to which demoted, and the specific rate of pay within the range shall be determined by the Human Resources Director, whose decision shall be final; provided, however, that the Board of Supervisors may provide for a rate of pay higher than the maximum step of the schedule for the employee’s classification, and designate such rate of pay as “Y” rate (see Section 5.8), and also provided that an employee demoted as a result of abolition of position shall be placed at the salary step in the lower classification which most closely approximates (but does not exceed) their salary in the higher classification.
If an employee voluntarily demotes to a class previously held, the employee shall be placed at the same step in that class which the employee held last. The employee’s service time at such step shall be the same as the service time held at such step previously.
In order to further the movement from lower-level to higher-level careers, an employee taking a voluntary demotion to a classification in the higher series (e.g., clerical employee to Benefits Analyst I class) shall be placed at the salary step in the new salary range which most closely approximates such employee’s salary in the prior class.
5.8 Reclassification of Position
An employee in a position reclassified to a lower class shall have the right of either (1) transferring to a vacant position in their present class in the same or another department, provided the head of the department into which the transfer is proposed agrees, or (2) continuing in the same position in the lower class at a “Y” rate of pay when the incumbent’s pay is higher than the maximum step of the salary range for the lower class.
5.9 “Y” Rate Process Upon Reclassification
When an employee is reclassified downward, they shall continue in their present salary range, with cost of living adjustments, for two years, at which point the employee’s salary shall be frozen (“Y” rated) until the salary assigned to the lower class equals or exceeds such “Y” rate. The “Y” rate provisions of this Section shall not apply to layoffs, demotions, or other personnel actions resulting in an incumbent moving from one position to another.
5.10 Deferred Compensation Automatic Enrollment for New Employees
Subject to applicable federal regulations, the County agrees to provide a deferred compensation plan that allows employees to defer compensation on a pre-tax basis through payroll deduction. Effective January 1, 2016, each new employee will be automatically enrolled in the County’s Deferred Compensation program, at the rate of one percent (1%) of their pre-tax wages, unless he or she chooses to opt out or to voluntarily change deferrals to greater than or less than the default one percent (>1%) as allowed in the plan or as allowed by law. The pre-tax deduction will be invested in the target fund associated with the employees’ date of birth. All deferrals are fully vested at the time of deferrals; there will be no waiting periods for vesting rights.