The Chautauqua County Legislature will be voting on three union contracts connected to the Sheriff’s Office.

The first union contract is with the Deputy Sheriff’s Association of Chautauqua County. Union members include those who are crime scene analysts, investigators, and sergeants.

The contract would run from Jan. 1, 2026-Dec. 31, 2029. It calls for wage increases of 4% each year through the life of the contract.

During the legislature’s Administrative Services Committee meeting, Human Resources Director Deborah Makowski said this union has 67 members and 37 of them voted on the contract. Of those who voted, 100% voted in favor of the proposed contract.

Makowski didn’t want to give specifics on what was discussed during negotiations, but did say that “there was a lot of talk of recruitment and retention at the table.”

Director of Finance Kitty Crow said should this and the other two contracts be adopted this month, they will be able to incorporate the new wage table into the tentative budget.

She said if approved, the DSACC contract will impact the county budget next year by about $740,000. “Allowing us to incorporate the new wages into the tentative budget allows us to make adjustments to offset those costs,” Crow added.

Legislator Bob Scudder, R-Fredonia, expressed his support. “I’m totally in favor of this. I’m in favor of law enforcement and especially the Sheriff’s (Department). I like the work that they do and I think it’s good for us to approve this. If nothing else, to show them our support for what they do,” he said.

Legislator Lisa Vanstrom, R-West Ellicott, agreed. “I’m in favor of this because I support retention. People we already have that are quality employees are doing their job. I like retention. It’s cheaper than having to keep training,” she said.

Crow said during negotiations the union compared what they make to other police agencies in Chautauqua County. “This contract does get them near the top but it’s not putting them at the top,” she said.

The second contract is with CSEA Unit 6322. This union represents part-time deputies and court officers.

Makowski said this union has 33 members and 24 of them participated in the vote. Of those who participated, 100% voted in favor of the proposed contract.

This contract is for four years. It has a one-time bonus of $500 to be paid in February. There will also be raises of 2.5% in 2027, 2028 and 2027.

Crow said from a budget perspective, the majority of the costs are reimbursed through the Office of Court Administration. “There should not be a significant impact to the budget in 2026,” she said.

The third contract is with the Chautauqua County Sheriff Supervisors Association. This union is for the lieutenants.

Makowski said this union has seven members, all seven participated in the vote and all voted in favor.

This contract is for four years and begins Jan. 1.

For 2026, the resolution states, “First year adjustment to address compression and promote retention.”

In 2027-2029 it calls for a 4% raise annually.

All three contracts were approved by the Administrative Services Committee. The contracts will go to the full legislature for final approval at its meeting on Aug. 27.