Monterey County Jobs: Veterans and Military Spouse Hiring Preference, and Paid Drill Leave

On November 4, 2025 the Board of Supervisors adopted Ordinance 5440, repealing Chapter 3.14 of the County Code, the veterans hiring preference ordinance of 1990, and approved Board Policy P-190, Hiring Preference for Veterans and Eligible Military Spouses, with an amended Military Leave Policy, P-220. Who P-190 covers. Veterans who served in the armed forces and were discharged or released under conditions other than dishonorable, and certain military spouses. The policy says qualifying candidates receive a preference that gives a meaningful advantage in selection, provided they meet the job's qualifications, and leaves the details to administrative procedures that Human Resources and the Military and Veterans Affairs Office are to write. Those procedures were not found published. What the Board was told they would change. The Human Resources Department's report and presentation recommended that the procedures cut the disability rating needed for preference points from 20% to zero; extend points to the spouse of a totally disabled veteran, the spouse of a veteran who died as a direct result of service, and the spouse of an active-duty service member; drop the five-year limit after separation and the bar on military retirees drawing retired pay; and open every County position to the points except at-will Executive Management Unit Y positions. A candidate who applies before the procedures are published should claim the preference and ask Human Resources how it is applied. Paid drill leave. Under P-220, County employees in the Guard and Reserve were paid for active service but not for inactive duty such as weekend drills. The amended policy lets the County pay employees for inactive military service, with the approval of the appointing authority and the Military and Veterans Affairs Officer.