The Macomb County Board of Commissioners have approved three-year contracts with sheriff’s deputies, command officers and dispatchers but not before criticizing administration officials for not previously informing them the deals cost the county and its contract communities more than they expected.

The deals provide 5%, 3%, and 3% wage increases in 2025, 2026 and 2027, respectively, and just as significantly return the officers into a pension plan to replace the 401(k)-style plan for retirement that has been in place over the past nine years.

The board approved the deals in an 11-1 vote Thursday after voting 7-4 in favor the day before, when several commissioners expressed concern, in meetings in the county Administration Building in Mount Clemens. The deals were initially considered at a Dec. 4 committee meeting but were pushed back one week due to the concerns.

Commissioners said the administration surprised the board by seeking a $576,000 budget amendment for 2025 representing the one-year cost increase. The budget was approved based on raises of 3% each year, a total of 9%, below the total of 11% that was presented. The county’s share of the increase is $329,000 and the six communities that contract for law enforcement services and the four communities that contract for dispatch will pick up the $247,000 total cost.

The county will pull $295,000 from its general fund and the rest will comes from the E-911 dispatch fund.

Communities that contract for law enforcement include Macomb, Harrison, Washington and Lenox townships, Mount Clemens and New Haven. Those that contract for dispatching include Sterling Heights, and Clinton, Ray and Armada townships.

The contract’s inclusion of making such a major move as going back to the pension system also drew criticism. Multiple commissioners said they weren’t necessarily opposed to it but have not been provided projections on the expected increased cost compared to a contribution system.

“I feel like we’ve been blindsided at the 11th hour.” Commissioner Joe Sabatini of Macomb Township said at prior committee meeting Dec. 4. “This is something that has to be discussed. This is something for not just today; this is for going forward for years.”

“Just a little heads up would’ve been great,” Commissioner Antoinette Wallace of Mount Clemens. She called the surprise cost to the contract communities “not fair.”

Commissioner Harold Haugh of Roseville said Macomb Township officials “were upset, very much upset” about the surprise cost. Haugh’s daughter, Kristi Pozzi, is the Macomb Township clerk.

“They feel disrespected,” Sabatini said.

Macomb Township Supervisor Frank Viviano did not return a call seeking comment.

The contracts require the communities to increase their reimbursement to the county in order to retain the same level of service.

All of the nine or 10 commissioners who spoke on the matter said they agreed the raises are warranted to try to attract and retain talent but were displeased they were left out of the loop.

Deputy County Executive Andrew McKinnon pointed out that contract negotiations are confidential until the deals area approved. He said he did talk privately with Sabatini and Commissioner Phil Kraft of Chesterfield Township. But Sabatini noted communication came “at the 11th hour, within a couple of weeks before it came to the board.

Contract talks started last June, but Karen Semlow, director of Human Resources and Labor Relations, said serious proposals were not submitted until November.

McKinnon and Commissioner Barb Zinner of Harrison Township engaged in a testy exchange at the Dec. 4 committee meeting.

Zinner said, “The situation is unacceptable,” referring to the fact that communities that contract with the Sheriff’s Office are being forced to pay more than they planned.

McKinnon responded by saying Zinner should not refer to county administrators in that way.

“To tell them the work they’re doing is unacceptable is not something I’m OK with,” McKinnon said. “I would appreciate questions coming and not to comment on the work they’re doing.”

Zinner replied: “When it affects our citizens and the people who are in charge of the citizens at different levels, this should be acknowledged and has been. They (local communities) expect us to stand up for them.”

McKinnon acknowledged, “Communication can always be improved. We will continue to try to provide better communication.”

Sabatini and Commissioner Don VanSyckel of Sterling Heights said they worry about increased cost of returning to providing a pension. Defined pensions for all county employees were halted in favor of the contribution in 2016. Eliminating pensions has been taking place in throughout governments over the past 10 to 20 years.

They also expressed concern that now other county employees will seek a return to a defined pension.

But there was consensus that going back to a pension system only for the Sheriff’s Office will help recruit and keep quality employees who provide a vital service.

McKinnon tried to allay concerns by pointing out the county is in excellent financial shape. The county recently received a bond rating increase to “AA1 positive,” he said.

“We are very confident in our financial position,” he said. “We want to attract the best, most competent, most ample public safety employees we can because it’s one of the most important jobs we do in the county.”

David Willis, director of Labor Services for the Fraternal Order of Police, which represents the 272 road deputies and dispatchers, agreed the contract improvements will help the county attract “the best of the best.”

“This brings us up to No. 2 (police agency) in the county for wages,” Willis said. “What it guarantees is Macomb County will keep and retain top-notch police offices and dispatchers. I believe the county stepped up and did the right thing.”

He said he heard that if the pension plan was not approved, up to 50 deputies may have left to go to other departments that offer signing bonuses.

The deal also includes 61 command officers represented by the Police Officers Association of Michigan.

The bargaining units voted overwhelmingly in favor of the deals, and some 25 to 30 deputies and other officers attended Wednesday’s committee meeting to show support for their passage by the board.

Pension systems guarantee a minimum amount and are in part protected by the federal government while contributions do not and are not.

The Sheriff’s Office in recent years has struggled to attract deputies because many other police departments still offer pension plans.

Semlow said pensions are part of the law enforcement “culture.”

“It’s critical for the work they do,” she said.

The contract also includes a new $450,000 payment to the estate of an officer who is killed in the line of duty, Semlow said. A deceased officer’s heirs also would receive $50,000 payment from a life insurance policy that has been in the contract.

“It shows we understand; we share your concern,” she said.

The county remains in negotiations for new deals with the 184-member corrections deputies unit and the six-member and captains and dispatcher chief unit.