Deputies, dispatchers reject county pay offer

Havre Daily News

The union representing Hill County Sheriff’s deputies and dispatchers has voted down a county proposal for a pay hike.

The county proposed a 2 percent base pay increase, which comes to about 24 cents an hour, said union representative Darcy Dahle.

With changes proposed in the health insurance coverage, the union members are taking a pretty big pay cut, Dahle said.

She said they are looking for a mediator to bring the two sides closer together.

The union is seeking raises because correction officers at the Hill County Detention Center received pay hikes. County officials agreed to those increases because they said they were having a hard time getting enough corrections officers to keep the facility open.

Traditionally, Blaine County sends its inmate to Havre since it has no jail of its own. But for a brief while, the Hill County facility was not able to supervise that many inmates, and Blaine County had to send its prisoners to Valley County. The facility is now able to operate with Blaine County inmates.

After the meeting, union officials said they would take their case to Hill County Commissioners today.

Deputies said they were especially displeased with the health package the county proposed for employees