Deputies patrolling Lake Oswego, West Linn and Oregon City will get a 2.7% cost-of-living raise retroactive to July 1 under a one-year contract extension the Clackamas County Board of Commissioners is set to approve Thursday, Aug. 6.
The $69,903,060 agreement with the Clackamas County Peace Officers Association covers more than 440 sheriff's deputies, district attorney investigators and other law enforcement staff through June 30, 2027. The 2.7% bump adds an estimated $1,837,763 to the county's personnel costs, according to the memorandum of agreement signed by Human Resources Director Evelyn Minor-Lawrence on July 29.
The raise came in under budget. The county's adopted FY 2026-27 budget assumed a 3.0% increase for personnel services.
CCPOA members ratified the deal July 22 after negotiators reached a tentative agreement June 18. The board reviewed the terms at its Aug. 4 work session. Because the item sits on Thursday's consent agenda, according to the county's Aug. 6 business meeting agenda, commissioners will approve it in a single motion alongside other routine business unless one member pulls it for separate discussion.
What the contract covers
The extension carries forward the underlying three-year agreement (July 1, 2023 through June 30, 2026) that included a 4.5% pay increase, an additional 5% top-step bump upon ratification, annual cost-of-living adjustments of up to 4.5% tied to the Consumer Price Index, 4% deferred compensation contributions and county-paid health insurance at 95% of Providence plan premiums and 100% of Kaiser premiums.
The new 2.7% adjustment applies to base wages, overtime, longevity pay, flat monthly incentives and premium pay for specialty assignments including SWAT, CERT and the bomb squad.
Employees will receive a lump-sum retroactive payment covering earnings since July 1. That check arrives three full pay periods after the board ratifies the deal.
Why it matters locally
Lake Oswego, West Linn and Oregon City contract with the Clackamas County Sheriff's Office for patrol deputies. Those assignments run on two-year terms under the CCPOA agreement, and the contract is funded partly through Contract City Funds, the county's public safety levy and approximately $51.4 million in county general funds.
That levy expires at the end of 2026. Voters rejected a renewal 63% to 37% in May. Without a new levy, the sheriff's office has said it would need to cut from 92 to 58 deputies, a 37% reduction that would directly affect staffing in contract cities.
The Board of Commissioners plans to put a new public safety funding measure before voters in May 2027. Board Chair Craig Roberts said at a July 28 meeting that there wasn't enough time for adequate public outreach before the November ballot, according to Oregon City News Online.
How to weigh in
Thursday's business meeting begins at 10 a.m. at 2051 Kaen Road #409, Oregon City. Residents can also attend via Zoom or watch live on the county's YouTube channel.
