Imperial County Municipal Code Ch. 3.12 Classification Plan and Salary Administration

A. The director of personnel services shall ascertain and describe the duties and responsibilities of all positions in Imperial County and shall recommend to the board of supervisors a classification plan for such positions. The classification plan shall consist of classes of positions defined by class specifications, including the title, duties, and qualifications.

B. A classification plan shall be adopted by the board of supervisors and may be amended from time to time by resolution.

C. The classification plan shall be periodically reviewed by the director of personnel services and maintained on a current basis so that all responsibilities, authority, and character of work are included within the same class, and that the same schedules of compensation may be made to apply with equity under like-working conditions to all positions in the same class.

D. The director of personnel services may authorize the substitution of one class for another if the pay level for the substitute class is equal to or lower than the allocated class. The director of personnel services may also authorize a lower level trainee class and lower level salary for the trainee class in lieu of an allocated class.

(Ord. 1299 § 2 (part), 1999: prior code § 24300)

A. The number of positions allocated to each department shall be authorized each year in the final budget. In the event the final budget is not adopted prior to commencement of the fiscal year, the prior year's allocation shall continue in effect until adoption of the final budget.

B. The county executive officer may, subject to review of the board of supervisors, authorize the transfer of positions from one department to another and may freeze the hiring of positions in exercising budgetary control.

C. The departmental position allocation may be amended from time to time by resolution of the board of supervisors.

D. No departmental head shall hire permanent employees in excess of the number of positions authorized in accordance with this section.

E. The county executive officer may, subject to review of the board of supervisors, establish a pool or group of employees in the office assistant or other group of classifications. The employees may be new employees or existing employees in any department. This pool will be assigned to the department of human resources. The employees in the pool positions will be available to any department, and allocation of employee time will be determined by the director of personnel services. Each employee's work-site will be determined and modified by the director of personnel services based upon the allocation of employee time.

(Ord. 1299 § 2 (part), 1999: prior code § 24301)

A. Except as otherwise provided, all officers and employees of the county of Imperial shall receive compensation at ranges and steps fixed by resolution of the board of supervisors.

B. Whenever, in this title, compensation is fixed for any position, such compensation is the compensation to be paid to the person holding such position unless otherwise stated. Such compensation shall be paid on a bi-weekly basis according to a calendar of pay days as adopted by the board of supervisors or as otherwise provided by resolution of the board of supervisors.

C. Whenever compensation is fixed for any position at a rate per year, the compensation shall be paid to the person holding such position in bi-weekly installments as nearly equal as may be possible on pay days as authorized in the preceding paragraph or as otherwise provided by resolution of the board.

D. Compensation for each officer, board, commission, attaché and employee for whom compensation is established shall be paid out of the county general fund, or such other fund as may be provided for by ordinance or by law, upon certification by the department head to the county auditor-controller that such employee has performed the services set forth in the certificate. When an employee separates from the county service and use of the regularly scheduled payroll certification would create an inequitable delay, the department head may immediately file a special payroll certification of such separation with the county auditor-controller. The county auditor-controller shall draft his or her warrant for the period of time and/or pay due the employee up to the time of separation Notice of such separation shall be immediately filed with the director of personnel services.

E. Before the county auditor-controller shall deliver to the head of any department of the county, or any employee thereof, his or her bi-weekly warrant, the head of the department shall file a payroll certificate with the county auditor-controller to the effect that each of his or her employees, during the pay period has performed services for the county as required by law. If there is any exception, the department head shall so state in his or her certification. The department head or his or her designee shall subscribe his or her name to the certificate.

(Ord. 1299 § 2 (part), 1999: prior code § 24302)

A. The board of supervisors shall, by resolution from time to time, adopt salary schedules, salary ranges, and salary steps to effect payment of compensation to all officers and employees of the county of Imperial. County employees, in general, shall be compensated as provided for by the standard salary schedule.

B. Where salary increases are authorized by resolution of the board of supervisors to be effective on a fiscal year basis, all such salary increases shall become effective at the start of pay period either the last pay period in June or the first pay period in July, whichever pay period starts on a date closest to July lst Where salary increases are authorized to be effective on any basis other than fiscal year basis, all such salary increases shall become effective at the start of that pay period designated by resolution of the board of supervisors.

(Ord. 1299 § 2 (part), 1999: prior code § 24303)

A. Salary step increases are not automatic, but shall be given only for performance of satisfactory service and completion to certain lengths of service as set out below, on the recommendation of the department head; provided, however, that stepincreases can be stopped at any time by resolution of the board. Salary step increases for appointive department heads shall be granted only upon approval of the board.

B. Every employee occupying a permanent position in the classified service shall have an anniversary date which shall be his or her annual salary increase eligibility date. Two pay periods before an employee's anniversary date until the employee reaches his or her maximum salary step of the appropriate range, the department head shall advise the director of personnel services in writing on the appropriate form whether he or she wishes to grant or deny the salary increase, supplementing his or her recommendation by a performance rating including satisfactory or unsatisfactory work performance, which has been discussed with the employee. If work performance has been satisfactory, the recommendation shall be to grant the increase. The director shall forward a copy of the notice to the county auditor-controller with his or her endorsement and such notification shall constitute authorization for the auditor-controller to grant the increase in calculating payment to the employee. Anniversary step increases shall become effective at the beginning of a pay period during which the anniversary date falls.

Provided, however, that the department head may recommend that the employee be advanced to the next higher step of the salary range at the beginning of any pay period subsequent to the employee's anniversary date and in the event a new anniversary date shall be established for purpose of annual salary increases, and that shall be the effective date of eligibility for subsequent step advancements.

(Ord. 1299 § 2 (part), 1999: prior code § 24305)

A. A permanent employee who has completed nine years of continuous service with the county, including one year during which he or she has occupied E step in his or her current classification shall be eligible for advancement to Step F of the applicable salary schedule. An employee may be advanced to Step F based upon the determination of the employee's department head that such employee has performed satisfactory service to the county for the designated period and upon his or her recommendations for such advancement made in writing to the director of personnel services. Approval of the board of supervisors is required for advancement to Step F for appointive department heads.

B. No employee shall be placed in Step F solely because of a position reclassification, change in position of classification, demotion, or promotion. The director of personnel services and the county executive officer may waive the above requirement that an employee has completed a full year at the E Step; provided, that at least nine years of continuous employment has been completed and exceptional circumstances justify the subject advancement to Step F.

(Ord. 1299 § 2 (part), 1999: prior code § 24306)

Upon promotion to a position having a higher salary range than the position formerly occupied, the employee shall be placed on the nearest step of the new salary range (but not beyond Step E) providing for a minimum five percent increase in salary over the step held in the former position prior to promotion. In those circumstances where placement at Step E does not provide the required minimum five percent salary increase, the director of personnel services and the county executive officer shall have authority to place employee at the F Step. The effective date of the promotional pay increase shall be the date on which the promotion is finally approved. A promoted employee shall take a new anniversary date as provided for herein.

(Ord. 1299 § 2 (part), 1999: prior code § 24307)

Upon demotion to a position in a class having a lower salary range than the class of position from which demoted, the employee shall have his or her salary reduced to the next lower salary in the new salary range. In such cases the employee shall receive a new anniversary date. Such demotions may be either inter- or intra-departmental.

(Ord. 1299 § 2 (part), 1999: prior code § 24308)

Upon transfer from one position to another in the same class or a class in the same salary range, the employee shall be compensated at the same step in the salary range as previously received with no change in anniversary date. Such transfers may be either inter- or intra-departmental.

(Ord. 1299 § 2 (part), 1999: prior code § 24309)

If a class is reallocated to a different salary range, the salary of the employee shall be the nearest higher salary in the new salary range which provides the employee a minimum of a five percent salary increase with no change in anniversary date. All changes in salary allocation shall be effective as of the first pay period following the date upon which the salary reallocation was effective.

(Ord. 1299 § 2 (part), 1999: prior code § 24310)

(Ord. No. 1605, § 1, 5-6-25)

The salary of the incumbent of a position which is reclassified shall be determined as follows:

A. If the position is reclassified to a class which is allocated to the same salary range, the salary of the employee shall not change and neither shall the anniversary date.

B. If the position is reclassified to a class which is allocated to a higher salary range, the salary of the employee shall be the nearest higher salary in the new salary range which provides the employee a minimum of a five percent salary increase. The new salary shall be effective as of the first pay period following the date upon which the reclassification is effective. In such case, the employee shall receive a new anniversary date.

C. If the position is reclassified to a class which is allocated to a lower salary range, the salary of the employee shall not change, unless the salary is greater than the maximum of the range of the position to which he or she has been reclassified. In which event, the salary of the employee shall be reduced to the maximum of the range of the new classification for which he or she is eligible, as of the first pay period following the date upon which the reclassification is effective. In such case, the anniversary date of the employee shall not change.

(Ord. 1299 § 2 (part), 1999: prior code § 24311)

Notwithstanding anything in this title to the contrary, the board may by resolution specify that new employees or the incumbent of a particular position occupy a step on the salary range for the class either higher or lower than that provided for elsewhere in this title. Moreover, the board may specify that certain classes shall have a recruitment step at other than the first step of the range.

(Ord. 1299 § 2 (part), 1999: prior code § 24312)

Employees who are required to work certain types of work shifts outside normal working hours, shall receive shift differential pay in addition to their regular salaries as follows:

A. A differential of five percent of regular salary payment for those employees who are required to work more than half of their scheduled hours between three p.m. and eleven p.m.

B. A differential of seven and one-half percent of regular salary payment for those employees who are required to work more than half of their scheduled hours between eleven p.m. and seven a.m.

(Ord. 1299 § 2 (part), 1999: prior code § 24313)

A. Effective July 1, 1977, there is established an educational incentive pay program for county employees eligible to participate in programs leading to the acquisition of either peace officer standards and training intermediate certificate or advanced certificate shall be eligible for such educational incentive pay. To award activities above and beyond those required of such employees by their job duties, such employees shall be awarded such additional compensation as follows: Employees possessing a peace officers standard and training certificate shall receive educational incentive pay either: (1) in an amount equal to two and one-half (2.5) percent of base salary for possessing an Intermediate Certificate; or (2) in an amount equal to five (5) percent of base salary for possessing an advanced certificate.

B. For the purpose of this section, the classification of undersheriff and sheriff will be entitled to the above educational pay.

(Ord. 1299 § 2 (part), 1999: prior code § 24313)

(Ord. No. 1591, § 1, 3-26-24)

The rules and regulations governing the use of county automobiles are set forth in Chapter 3.44. Violations of such rules and regulations by a county employee is a violation of his or her duties; and he or she shall be disciplined accordingly by the board of supervisors or his or her department head.

(Ord. 1299 § 2 (part), 1999: prior code § 24314)

A. Except as otherwise specifically enumerated herein, all fees, commissions or compensation of whatever nature or character, including compensation for transportation of persons, received by any county officer, deputy, assistant or employee by virtue of his or her office shall be turned in to the county treasury, and deposited in the county general fund, such turn-in to be made not later than the fifth day of the month following the month in which the fees, commissions or compensation shall have been received; and all fees, commissions or compensation shall be deemed to have become the property of the county of Imperial immediately upon its receipt by any county officer, deputy, assistant or employee.

B. Exceptions to the requirements set forth in the last preceding paragraph shall be as follows:

1. The constables of each judicial district within this county shall be allowed to retain those charges or fees, authorized by the Government Code, which are received by them for services rendered in connection with private civil judicial proceedings; all other charges or fees received by constables, except those specifically allowed to them, shall be turned into the county treasury, or where such charges are incurred in connection with criminal judicial proceedings, the same shall not be collected, it being declared that the salary authorized to be paid to the constables under and pursuant to this title shall be deemed to be in lieu of the retention of such charges or fees, except as otherwise in subsection A of this section.

2. Fees received by judges for performing wedding ceremonies shall be retained by the judges.

3. Fees received by a county veterinarian for inoculating animals, as required by law, shall be retained by the veterinarian.

(Ord. 1299 § 2 (part), 1999: prior code § 24315)

Notwithstanding anything in this title to the contrary, when in the judgment of the board of supervisors it becomes necessary or desirable to utilize the services of county employees in capacities other than those for which they are regularly employed, the board of supervisors may by virtue of resolution, so authorize and fix an additional rate of compensation for such employees who shall be paid such additional compensation upon claims presented and approved in like manner as other claims against the county presented and approved.

(Ord. 1299 § 2 (part), 1999: prior code § 24316)

A. Effective first pay period in July 2023, each member of the board of supervisors shall receive five thousand three hundred seventeen dollars and forty-five cents ($5,317.45) per month as full compensation for services performed as a supervisor. Effective first pay period in July 2024, each member of the board of supervisors shall receive five thousand four hundred seventy-six dollars and ninety-eight cents ($5,476.98). Effective upon ordinance taking effect or November 17, 2023, whichever is later, each member of the board of supervisors shall receive a one-time discretionary year-end bonus of up to three thousand dollars ($3,000.00) with the same terms and conditions as regular full-time employees.

No supervisor shall receive any compensation, in addition to that provided for by this section, for sendees rendered as a member of the board of supervisors.

B. Each supervisor may elect to be compensated for monthly in-county mileage driven on county business on one of the following bases:

(1) To receive actual and necessary expenses and mileage, by filing a demand in the same manner as other county officers; or

(2) In lieu of in-county mileage reimbursement claims, to receive a stipend of five hundred fifty dollars ($550.00) per month.

As an alternative to either submitting such claims or receiving such stipends, each supervisor may elect to perform in-county travel on county business using county-owned or county-rented automobiles.

C. Each supervisor shall be entitled to group health and life insurance benefits and retirement benefits as are authorized for county department heads.

(Ord. 1409 § 1, 2006; Ord. 1390 § 1, 2005; Ord. 1342 § 2, 2001: prior code § 24317)

(Ord. No. 1451, § 1, 9-22-09; Ord. No. 1494, § 1, 12-3-13; Ord. No. 1512, § 1, 10-27-15; Ord. No. 1550, § 1, 10-8-19; Ord. No. 1579, § 1, 7-12-22; Ord. No. 1585, § 1, 9-19-23)

A. Upon request of a supervisor-elect, county general fund moneys may be used prior to the assumption of office by that supervisor-elect for the training and orientation of that supervisor-elect including the payment of course fees, travel and per diem expenses, course material, and consultant fees.

B. Such training and orientation programs, and expenses therefore, shall be those the board deems proper and beneficial to the exercise of supervisorial duties by newly elected supervisors.

C. In order to receive training and orientation funds, the supervisor-elect shall:

1. Make a formal request of the board of supervisors;

2. For the above limited purposes only, and upon approval of the request by the board of supervisors, the supervisor-elect shall use the same standard procedures used by members of the board of supervisors for such training. The county executive officer and staff shall assist the supervisor-elect as needed;

3. This section is enacted pursuant to the authority given in Government Code Section 25208.4.

(Ord. 1299 § 2 (part), 1999: prior code § 24317.5)

Editor's note— Sec. 1 of Ord. No. 1495, adopted December 3, 2013, deleted § 3.12.200 which pertained to compensation for district attorney and auditor-controller, and derived from Ord. 1428, 2007; Ord. 1438, 2008; and Ord. No. 1450, adopted September 22, 2009.