Supervisors approve pay step-plan changes for Pinal County detention officers; funding included in tentative budget

Pinal County supervisors on June 18 approved a revised pay step plan for detention officers in the Pinal County Sheriff's Office, a change the sheriff and county HR officials said is intended to improve retention and align pay with regional labor markets.

Sheriff Ross Teeples urged the board to pass the plan, saying detention officers had absorbed sustained inflationary pressure since their last raise and that the work is among the county's toughest posts. "Detention officers work the toughest beat in America," the sheriff said, describing job conditions and operational expectations.

Mary Ellen Shepherd, deputy county manager and HR director, summarized the market study that informed the pay changes. Shepherd said the county compared pay against Maricopa, Pima and Yavapai counties and municipal employers to ensure the detention scale is competitive. "The wages we offer our detention officers and the rank is consistent with our community and reflective of the critical work that they perform," Shepherd said.

Angie Woods, director of the Office of Budget and Finance, confirmed the step-plan revision is budgeted centrally in the tentative FY2025'26 budget; upon board approval, the county will appropriate the funds to the sheriff's detention operating budget for implementation.

The board voted to approve the plan. Supervisors emphasized retention and certification accomplishments in the detention workforce during discussion.

Next steps: Human resources and the sheriff's office will implement the revised step plan, update payroll and make any associated budget transfers authorized via the approved tentative budget.