Codington County Commissioners Approve Union Contracts for 2026

Northeast Radio SD News - Watertown, SD - The Codington County Board of Commissioners formally approved the remaining 2026 employee union contracts during their meeting this week, finalizing labor agreements for both correctional officers and deputy sheriffs.

Natalie Remund, Human Resource Representative, presented the terms for two specific bargaining units: Teamsters Local Union No. 120, which represents the county’s correctional officers, and the Codington County Deputy Sheriff’s Association.

Both agreements will be in effect from Jan. 1, 2026, through Dec. 31, 2026. Key features of the new contracts include:

·   Wage Adjustments: Employees will transition to a new wage scale based on a recent market study by McGrath Human Resources Group.

·   Cost-of-Living Allowance: A 2.6% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) has been added to the new pay structure.

·   Step Placement: Workers will be placed on the step within the new scale that is closest to their current salary, ensuring no employee sees a decrease in wages during the transition.

·   Healthcare Coverage: Both unions will move to the updated 2026 Sanford Health Plan.

Commissioners Gabel and Johnson introduced the motions to approve the contracts. Both votes passed unanimously.