WAMPSVILLE — To attract more employees and keep them for longer, Madison County has passed resolutions accepting labor contracts that include various wage increases.

At the last Board of Supervisors meeting, the Board of Supervisors approved the CSEA White Collar Union contract and the Teamsters Local 294. CSEA positions for 2023 saw a 7% wage increase, as well as a 4.5% increase in 2024 and a 3% increase in 2025. Teamsters positions saw a 15% increase for 2023, a 4.5% increase in 2024, and a 3% increase in 2025. On top of this, management salaries for 2023 saw a 7% increase.

During the meeting — the final day of the annual session — the board also approved additional wage increases.

CSEA Blue Collar Union employees will receive a 7% increase for 2023, followed by a 4.5% increase for 2024 and a 3% increase for 2025.

The Madison County Deputy Sheriff’s Benevolent Association contract, which was adopted, included a retroactive 7% increase for 2022, a 5% increase for 2023 and a 4% increase for 2024.

Madison County Administrator Mark Scimone was transparent about the reason behind the raises — they needed employees.

“We’ve had a lot of issues with recruitment and retention,” he said. “The Highway Department has four vacancies and we’ve had people go through the pre-employment physicals, and right at the point when they’re supposed to start, they don’t show up because they found a better offer somewhere else. And the four vacancies is just at the Highway Department.”

The county administrator said the corrections department has around 13 vacancies right now, causing people to pull a lot of overtime — something Scimone said was bad for employee morale. “These four different resolutions passed raising wages pretty substantially will make sure we can keep the employees we have and recruit more,” Scimone said. “When you have Dunkin’ Donuts paying $18 an hour and an office assistant position offering similar money, it’s difficult to get them to come work for Madison County as we try to compete with the private sector and other counties.”

Scimone said this has been historic for Madison County, as the CSEA Blue Collar Union had an existing contract that was going to go for another few years at 2%.

“Madison County reopened that contract to give them more money, because of the issues in retention,” he said. “That’s something Madison County has never done before — we’ve never reopened a contract to give more money.”

The Teamsters Union, which represents employees in the Office of the Sheriff in the Corrections Division, will receive the largest pay increase in 2023. The new agreement will raise the starting wage for a correction officer to over $49,000 a year.  

“Our corrections officers work holidays, weekends, and a lot of times double shifts to keep the worst of the worst criminals off of our streets, and we are truly grateful for the work they do and sacrifices they make,” said Scimone. “Unfortunately our jail has been extremely understaffed, we are currently down 13 positions. This is causing burnout and retention issues with our current staff. Our recent Employment Engagement survey reinforced that our corrections officers feel overworked and underpaid. Which is why we needed to do something big to support our current employees and recruit others.”

Compensation extends beyond just salary based benefits. The overall lifestyle and positive sentiment of employees is seen as a crucial aspect of creating a desirable work place, Madison County officials said.

Madison County employees receive sick and vacation time that increases with seniority, access to the New York State pension system and deferred compensation program, health insurance options, and tuition reimbursement.

In the 2022 county Employee Engagement survey, 90% of respondents said they are proud to work for Madison County, and 91% said that their work positively impacts the residents’ lives.

To help with recruitment, Madison County has become part of a pilot program through New York State to eliminate the written civil service examination for corrections officers. Prior to that, only seven candidates had signed up for the exam. Madison County officials said that number has more than quadrupled.

“Madison County as an employer has a lot to offer,” said Scimone. “And our recent employee survey just reinforces that. We know that currently, due to inflation, many of our employees are really feeling a financial pinch. That is why Madison County worked so hard with our bargaining units to ensure that our employees know how much we value them and the tireless work that they do for the residents of our community.”

“Our employees here at Madison County always work hard to provide services to our residents, the Madison County Board of Supervisors believes they deserve to have a competitive salary,” said Madison County Board Chairman John Becker. “We have been watching our employees struggle with the rise in inflation rates, and as an employer, we too are struggling to attract and hire new capable staff. Madison County is happy to work with all of our bargaining units on a wage increase that ensures our hardworking employees receive a fair wage, make Madison County an even more attractive place to work for all while keeping the Madison County property taxpayers in mind. We understand that taxes may go up in 2023, however, that slight increase, we know you will agree, is worth it to continue to receive the great services that we do here at Madison County.”

The wage increases for all employees will go into effect  Jan. 1. 

At the last Board of Supervisors meeting, the Board of Supervisor approved the CSEA White Collar Union contract and the Teamsters Local 294. CSEA positions for 2023 saw a 7% wage increase, as well as a 4.5% increase in 2024 and a 3% increase in 2025. Teamsters positions saw a 15% increase for 2023, a 4.5% increase in 2024, and a 3% increase in 2025. On top of this, management salaries for 2023 saw a 7% increase.

At Thursday’s Board of Supervisor’s meeting — the final day of Annual Session — The Board of Supervisors approved additional wage increases. CSEA Blue Collar Union employees will be receiving a 7% increase for 2023, followed by a 4.5% increase for 2024 and a 3% increase for 2025.

The Madison County Deputy Sheriff’s Benevolent Association contract was adopted, included a retroactive 7% increase for 2022, then a 5% increase for 2023 and a 4% increase for 2024.

Madison County Administrator Mark Scimone was transparent about the reason behind the raises — they needed employees.

“We’ve had a lot issues with recruitment and retention,” he said. “The Highway Department has four vacancies and we’ve had people go through the pre-employm