§ 2.100.330. Merit step increase.

A.

Merit step salary increases shall not be deemed automatic, but shall be awarded only to those employees whose overall performance appraisal meets county standards (i.e., is at least satisfactory), on recommendation of the department head, provided, however, that prospective merit step increases can be terminated at any time by resolution of the board of supervisors.

B.

Except as hereafter provided, the first merit step increase within range may be granted on the first pay period following completion of thirteen full pay periods of service in a budgeted position. This applies to employees who have completed thirteen pay periods of satisfactory service as new employees with the county, or after a promotion pursuant to Section 2.100.340, or after reclassification pursuant to Section 2.100.390. However, the first merit step increase within the range may be granted to employees initially appointed above Step A of the salary range only following completion of twenty-six full pay periods of service in a budgeted position.

C.

An employee shall be eligible for subsequent merit step increases until said employee reaches the maximum salary step of the appropriate salary range. The employee shall be eligible for each increase twenty-six pay periods after his last merit step increase and said effective date shall be at the beginning of a pay period.

D.

Two pay periods prior to each employee's salary anniversary date, the department head shall submit to the county auditor-controller the appropriate payroll form advancing the employee to the next higher step of the range. Such notification shall constitute authorization for the county auditor-controller to make payment to the employee at a higher rate as hereinabove provided. If the employee's anniversary date is overlooked through an error, and upon discovery of the error, the employee is recommended for a merit step increase, the county auditor-controller shall honor a supplemental payroll compensating the employee for the additional salary he would have received from his salary anniversary date; provided, however, that the department head may at his discretion recommend that the employee be advanced to the next step of the salary range at any time subsequent to said employee's salary anniversary date. In the event a new salary anniversary date shall be established for the purpose of merit step increases, that shall be the effective date of the step increase.

E.

Step increases of eligible department heads shall be granted only upon approval of the county administrator.

F.

All appointive officers serving for a term governed by the provisions of Article II, Section 5, of the California Constitution shall receive increases within range as provided in subsection (A) of this section, without specific authorization of the board of supervisors.

(Ord. 1002 § 1, 1992; Ord. 985 § 1 (part), 1991: prior code § 2103)