CCSO Financial Update:
CCSO values transparency, and in an effort to provide as much information as possible to our members, the following is an update of the financial situation and recent impacts affecting CCSO.
Representation is a core value and service provided to all members. CCSO will always guarantee representation when needed; that is a fundamental benefit the organization was founded on. Rest assured that you will be represented by a lawyer during an AIMS inquiry, OIA investigation, or any other type of interview that could result in disciplinary action, including SPB hearings. However, due to current budget constraints, CCSO may need to reduce or eliminate other benefits provided to members in order to create financial stability.
CCSO’s monthly expenditures currently exceed revenue, resulting in quarterly and annual deficits. To alleviate our losses, the CCSO office has cut all non-essential expenditures. These include travel and site visits, donations, and all contract labor. While we can sustain these cuts, we feel that we are losing important services for our membership, and we truly hope to bring them back as soon as possible.
Numerous factors, including inflation, have attributed to the increase in expenditures. Nationwide the inflation rate has increased faster than ever before, and CCSO’s expenses have also grown. The creation of the AIMS unit has resulted in an escalation of inquiries and investigations, all requiring lawyers for representation. CDCR’s implementation of body-worn cameras has also expanded on the need for representation. CCSO’s commitment to guaranteed representation will never wavier, but it also must be treated like a business. As costs go up, inflation must be passed along to the consumer. CCSO has negotiated discounted rates, but lawyers do not work for free. When a CCSO member needs representation, CCSO hires lawyers on a case-by-case basis, to ensure our membership receives the best and most aggressive legal representation possible.
Other financial factors that need to be considered are the recent closure of DVI and the impending closure of CCC, with the likely possibility of more closures in the future. As these institutions close, many members retire, while some of our active membership is absorbed at other institutions. Losing whole chapters creates an immediate financial impact that cannot be regained. While CCSO membership is on the rise with newly promoted staff, losing one chapter, and possibly more, has a huge financial impact.
In addition to personal disciplinary cases, CCSO is fighting numerous legal battles to ensure our membership receives fair and equal pay, benefits, and working conditions. It can be demoralizing when rank and file employees are treated better than the employees that supervise them, which is why CCSO fights for our members’ rights, but it comes at a great financial cost. Lawsuits against the state are expensive and normally take years, but CCSO is committed to seeing these fights through. The walktime case alone costs thousands of dollars each month, but CCSO will continue to pursue that battle because our members deserve better.
Luckily, CCSO had the foresight to ensure financial stability through tough times, but it cannot last forever. It was also that foresight that enabled CCSO to operate during the onset of Covid. Throughout the whole pandemic, CCSO has been able to operate without any lapse in service or representation. The State Board saw the need to update the office server and voted to spend the money. This gave CCSO the ability to function with modern-day technology while protecting the confidential information of our membership and organization. The CCSO State Board also voted unanimously to expand the headquarters office. When the small financial impact of the office expansion is compared to the large yearly savings, it was a fiscally responsible, cost-effective, and necessary decision.
CCSO must look to the future to prepare and anticipate the needs of our membership. We cannot afford to be a reactive organization. CCSO has proven to be more proactive over the last 4 years, benefiting every member and gaining momentum in the institutions, and with the legislature, CalHR, and the Governor’s office. Every CCSO member has benefited from the hard work and dedication provided by CCSO and it would be counterproductive to lose all the forward momentum that we have gained. Without planning and foresight, businesses and organizations will not succeed. We all want more rights, pay, benefits, and better working conditions, but the fight costs money.
To offset rising costs, as well as bring the organization back to financial stability, a dues increase is necessary. CCSO is proposing a permanent percentage dues increase, in a two-tier system based on salary, to ensure we will always have the resources to fight for our membership’s rights and continue to grow and evolve. To make this happen, CCSO needs your support. The Chapter Presidents will soon be canvassing their chapter members for a consensus on the dues increase. CCSO asks that you request your Chapter President to vote YES for the dues increase so that we may continue to provide the best legal protection, the ability to fight for our members’ rights, and the benefits and services our members deserve. CCSO currently charges far less than our competitors and provides a much better service. Please help us continue to be a strong and thriving organization.
For more information, please contact your local Chapter President or one of our State Board or Executive Representatives listed below:
Sabrina Harris: sabrina.h@ccsonet.org
Sabrina’s cell:209.765.5462
Craig Sorensen: craig.s@ccsonet.org
Craig’s cell:909.762.2008
Jeff Welch: Jeff.w@ccsonet.org
Jeff’s cell:928.566.9044
Disclaimer: This newsletter is for CCSO members only and may contain confidential and/or sensitive information. Please do not disseminate through CDCR email. Contact the CCSO office with any questions or concerns.