No wage cut for Minnehaha County deputies, judge rules

December 31, 2011

South Dakota: Donald Hageman, an administrative law judge in South Dakota, has ruled against a 5% wage cut for the sheriff's deputies of Minnehaha County. In his decision, handed down on December 23, 2011, he explained that reducing wages violated the collective bargain agreement between the county and the deputies' association. The cuts were estimated to have saved the county $450,000, but the county is not allowed to reduce deputies' salaries without authorization by the contract. The county is deciding whether or not to appeal the ruling.