With the Shasta County Jail already desperately short on staff, an impasse has been called in negotiations with the union representing correctional deputies. Jail guards have been working without a contract for more than 2 months. The county is offering a 2.5% raise in base pay and a shorter probationary period. The staff shortage has caused the Sheriff to close one floor of the jail, severely impeding the ability to keep defendants locked up prior to court proceedings. Despite an aggressive effort to hire more correctional deputies, of the dozens that have been hired nearly all of them have quit the job within a couple of weeks. On Tuesday the Board of Supervisors will vote on whether to make a last, best and final offer to the union.