Tag: santa clara county

With the deadline to file for candidacy more than two weeks away, some intending to run for Santa Clara County elected offices in the June primary have already reported growing war chests for the upcoming campaign.

The “realities of modern healthcare” have forced South County’s largest healthcare facility to its knees, as the nonprofit organization that runs Saint Louise Regional Hospital this week announced its intent to sell their entire health system, according to the parent organization’s spokespeople.

In May, Supervisor Dave Cortese proposed raising minimum wage to $10 per hour in unincorporated areas of the county. Gov. Brown has since signed legislation to increase California’s minimum wage to $9 per hour on July 1, 2014 and to $10 per hour on Jan. 1, 2016.

Santa Clara County and its employees represented by the Service Employees International Union Local 521 announced Friday they have reached a tentative, two-year employment agreement that will require the union members to pick up more of the cost of their health and retirement benefits, and also gives them a raise, according to County staff.The key to the preceding negotiations for the new agreement was both the County and its largest union workforce are dedicated to one fundamental principle, according to County staff: “Quality public services come first.”“We value the contributions of County employees,” County Executive Jeffrey Smith said. “This contract includes a modest wage increase, and now employees will be sharing in the cost of health premiums and contributing toward the growing cost of retiree health benefits.”An SEIU Local 521 member who served on the union’s negotiating team said the tentative agreement is an “affirmation that we will continue to put community first.”“We believe we’ve reached a fair agreement that protects vital front-line public services, and we look forward to continuing to work with the County on the challenge of recruiting and retaining a cutting-edge workforce,” said the SEIU member, Karen Smit, a respiratory care practitioner. Highlights of the two-year agreement, according to County staff, include:- Workers will increase their contributions toward retiree health care costs $10 per pay period, or $260 annually in order to strengthen the plan’s sustainability. This contribution will bring in about $2.1 million annually. - New workers will have to work for a minimum of 15 years to qualify for retiree health benefits. Under the previous agreement, those hired would have had to work 10 years to be eligible for the benefit. - To prepare for federal health care reform, the County will collaborate with SEIU 521 to form “unit-based teams” across the County’s Health & Hospital System, ensuring front-line workers have direct input on the improvements that affect patient care. - Employees will share in the cost of health premiums.- To address recruitment and retention concerns, the two lowest steps of union members’ salary schedule will be removed. This will help the County “become competitive in developing a cutting-edge workforce.” - Union members will receive a 5 percent overall wage increase during the agreement - a 2 percent increase in the first year and 3 percent the second year. “We came into negotiations focused on preserving and enhancing quality public services,” said wRen Bradley, chapter president of SEIU Local 521 Santa Clara County. “We knew the only way we could keep Santa Clara County strong was to ensure County services did not suffer. We will continue to do everything we can to develop a cutting-edge workforce, especially as we implement the Affordable Care Act.”SEIU Local 521 represents about 11,000 County employees, according to the union’s website. The tentative agreement will be presented to the five-member County Board of Supervisors for approval Sept. 10.  

Average home sale prices are "showing no signs of a mid-summer slowdown" in Santa Clara County and continued to rise in July, according to a press release from the Santa Clara County Association of Realtors.

Santa Clara County is accepting applications for up to $252,000 in grant funds available through the 2013 Historical Heritage Grant Program, according to County staff. 

Imagine a medical emergency that requires an ambulance. Fast forward a month or so and imagine getting a bill from the Rural-Metro for $10,000 give or take with a notice declaring that the company, unfortunately, doesn’t contract with your private medical insurance carrier. You’re on the hook for the bill, maybe you’ve been unable to work and then the aggressive calls from the collection agency start.

Mixed reviews are following an ambitious effort aimed at clarifying existing laws that regulate the local wine industry, after the project dragged on for more than a year.

Police and deputies in Santa Clara County arrested 97 motorists on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs this weekend, according to a press release from the sheriff’s office. 

A top administrator of Santa Clara County’s health plan was charged with 18 felonies this week, accused of trading prescriptions for addictive drugs - including Oxycontin - in return for cash and methamphetamine, according to authorities from the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s office.