HOLLIDAYSBURG — Blair County commissioners recently approved separate contracts with two groups of unionized employees.

A three-year contract addressing wages and benefits for unionized personnel at the county prison, as approved June 25 by commissioners Dave Kessling and Amy Webster, introduces a 15-step wage scale and a retroactive effective date of Jan. 1.

That scale sets a starting hourly wage of $23.50 for corrections officers and pay increases per step, to maximum hourly pay of $30.50.

It also sets a starting hourly wage of $25 for sergeants, with pay increases per step, to a maximum hourly pay of $32.50.

Prison personnel covered by the contract are to be placed on the appropriate step reflecting years of service. They’ll advance one step starting with the first full pay period after their anniversary of their seniority date, based on the approved contract that remains in effect through Dec. 31, 2028. The prior contract for corrections officers and sergeants awarded annual percentage increases.

The second negotiated union contract, covering employment terms for assistant district attorneys and assistant public defenders, was approved June 18 by commissioners Kessling and Laura Burke.

It introduces a 20-step scale, retroactive to Jan. 1, that sets a starting wage for full-time assistant attorneys with less than a year of experience at $63,408 annually. It introduces a starting wage for part-time assistant attorneys with less than a year of experience at $41,215 annually.

The contract also allows experienced attorneys to be hired at higher-than-starting rates but not to exceed the 20-step scale’s maximum rate of $84,139 annually for full-time employment and $54,690 for part-time employment.

The new contract also calls for attorneys making less than the starting salaries on the 20-step scale to be placed on the appropriate step. It also awards 2.75% increases to the base salary rate of then-current assistant employees as of Jan. 1 for each year of the contract which remains in effect through Dec. 31, 2028. The county’s previous contract with the assistant attorneys awarded a 3% increase for 2023, a 2.25% increase for 2024 and a 2.25% increase for 2025.

The new contract also continues the practice of awarding base salary enhancements to attorneys who continue working for the county. While the prior contract offered enhancements at four intervals up to 10 years, the new contract allows $5,000 to be awarded to the base salary for full-time attorneys reaching 15, 20 and 25 years of service with the county. The comparable amount is $2,500 for part-time attorneys who reach those years of service with the county.

Commissioners, when voting on the negotiated contracts, indicated that the related costs fell within 2026’s budgeted amounts.

Kessling also recognized and praised Kyle Brashear, human resources analyst, for his efforts in negotiating the settlements.

Mirror Staff Writer Kay Stephens is at 814-946-7456.