Hamblen County committee approves 5% COLA for most county employees, separately OKs 10% increase for sheriff's staff

The Hamblen County Budget Committee voted to give a 5% cost-of-living adjustment to county employees across the board, excluding staff in the sheriff's department, and separately approved a 10% raise for sheriff's department positions.

Committee members said the increases respond to recruitment and retention pressures and new operating costs tied to the county's expanding facilities. County officials repeatedly warned the increases are recurring and will require either spending cuts or new revenue in future years.

Mayor (unnamed), presenting budget options, told commissioners the county could sustain a one-time draw on reserves but that recurring increases require new revenue or cuts: "You need the revenue or you cut. That's the choices." Several commissioners said sheriff's deputies and other front-line staff are competing with private-sector wages and neighboring agencies for employees; Commissioner Rodney Long said, "If you give the bottom something and don't move that up the ladder, then it creates problems" for morale and retention.

After discussion the committee voted by roll call to approve a 5% COLA for all county employees except those in the sheriff's department. Later the panel considered the sheriff's request separately; a motion to provide the sheriff's department a 10% increase was made, seconded and approved by roll call. At the time of the vote members framed the sheriff's increase as a targeted retention measure tied to immediate staffing shortages the department faces ahead of the new justice center opening.

Committee discussion repeatedly flagged long-term budget implications. The county finance staff and mayor said the approved raises will increase recurring payroll obligations materially and that fund balance would be drawn down if no revenue increases or offsets are enacted. The mayor summarized the tradeoffs: "You have two choices. You cut or you find revenue." Several commissioners asked staff to return with more detailed scenarios showing fund-balance impacts and options for spreading costs across tax years or targeted adjustments.

The committee also asked staff to provide implementation details and to fast-track the pending salary study so members would have an updated market comparison and options for phased adjustments.

The committee did not adopt any change to the classification or benefits structure during the meeting; commissioners said those items will be considered separately once the salary study and more detailed fiscal scenarios are available.

Looking ahead, the mayor and finance director noted the county will face additional operating costs when the new justice center and other facilities come online; they urged the commission to weigh recurring employee costs against those new facility expenses.

The committee's votes on the COLA and the sheriff's increase were recorded by roll call; commissioners who voted in favor and those who abstained were recorded in the meeting minutes.