While a four-tier wage scale system was implemented by the county commission in 2011 for employees of the Sheriff's Department to bring them up to a level of pay that was more competitive with other agencies, Sheriff Patrick Ray told the county budget committee last week that he felt that it was time to revisit his department’s pay scale.
The system was put into place for years ago because the sheriff’s department was having trouble retaining employees, because many of his staff were leaving for better pay and benefits at other agencies.
After making several cuts to other areas of the sheriff’s budget to help fund pay increases, the committee approved a plan to accommodate the sheriff's request which includes a new scale that adds two more tiers to help keep long-time employees on board.
A total of nearly $50,000 was trimmed from the sheriff’s department budget to fund the changes, under which new sheriff's department employees start out on the first tier either at their respective jobs, advance to the second tier after one calendar year of employment, then to the third and fourth tier. Employees who remain in the same job position for a six consecutive years move up to the fifth tier, and those who work for eight years in the same job advance to the sixth tier.
The Chief Deputy's position is the exception, being based on performance rather than the six tier plan. He will be evaluated within the Department and be raised accordingly.
The budget committee's approval of the sheriff's department and jail budget plan will now go to the county commission for final approval
The tier plan for each position in the department is as follows:
Chief Deputy: (Performance Tiers)
•$40,144 (Yearly)
•$43,365
•$44,675
•$46,016
Detective:
•1st Tier: $35,597 (Yearly)
•2nd Tier:$36, 603
•3rd Tier: $37,676
•4th Tier: $38,615
•5th Tier: $39,621
•6th Tier: $40,628
Sergeant:
•1st Tier: $35,597 (Yearly)
•2nd Tier: $36,156
•3rd Tier: $36,715
•4th Tier: $37,274
•5th Tier: $37,833
•6thTier: $38,392
Deputy:
•1st Tier: $30,141 (Yearly)
•2nd Tier: $31,505
•3rd Tier: $32,869
•4th Tier: $34,233
•5th Tier: $35,597
•6thTier: $36,961
Correctional Officer:
•1st Tier: $26,429 (Yearly)
•2nd Tier: $27,145
•3rd Tier: $27,860
•4th Tier: $28,598
•5th Tier: $29,269
•6thTier: $30,007
Cook:
•1st Tier: $20,966 (Yearly)
•2nd Tier: $21,299
•3rd Tier: $21,632
•4th Tier: $22,006
•5th Tier: $22,297
•6thTier: $22,630