Madison County Commission approves amended pay plan for sheriff after hour-long debate

The Madison County Commission voted to send a resolution to the Alabama Legislature requesting an increase in the compensation for the Madison County sheriff after more than an hour of questions and debate and a formal amendment to the proposed pay schedule.

The item before the commission grew out of a county pay study. Sheriff Kevin Turner told commissioners the study compared Madison County to larger Alabama counties and recommended raising the sheriff’s pay to better align the office with similar jurisdictions. “This is not anything that is a pay raise for Kevin Turner — this is a pay raise for the office of Sheriff of Madison County,” Turner said, arguing the office now manages a large, 24/7 jail and expanded patrol responsibilities.

Commissioners pressed for context, fairness and a broader review. Some members said they were comfortable supporting a sheriff increase only if the commission simultaneously pursued a compensation study for other countywide elected officials (probate judge, tax assessor, tax collector, license commissioner and others). The commission amended the original resolution to set a $170,000 starting salary and to add a 7.5% salary increase for each successive full four‑year term (crediting the current sheriff for past service). The amended resolution also directs the commission to make a good‑faith effort to evaluate other elected positions funded by Madison County and, where appropriate, present legislative adjustments during the current legislative session.

Supporters cited the sheriff’s expanded responsibilities and the county jail population. Commissioners and the sheriff noted the jail average has risen to about 1,100–1,200 inmates on a daily basis; Sheriff Turner said his office processed more than 14,000 inmate bookings last year and answered “over 30,000 plus calls for service” on patrol. A commissioner who reviewed the pay‑study figures said the average of five comparison sheriffs was about $207,800.

Opponents and cautious members said they did not want to single out one elected office without comparable information for others. The probate judge, Frank Barger, sent a written request read into the record asking why the same study had not been done for other countywide elected officials and asking that the commission treat those positions consistently. Commissioners pledged to try to accelerate a countywide compensation review; staff said they would prioritize that work but cautioned about the timeline given legislative session deadlines.

Procedure and vote: after debate, Commissioner Vandiver moved to amend the resolution to set a $170,000 base salary with 7.5% successive‑term increases and to require a good‑faith effort to evaluate other elected officials during the legislative session; Commissioner Edwards seconded the amendment. The amendment passed with one commissioner recorded as opposed. The commission then voted to adopt the resolution as amended; staff said they would draft and circulate final language reflecting the amendment for confirmation.

Jeff (staff) said he would draft a replacement resolution that captured the commission’s amended parameters and circulate it for review. The adopted resolution does not itself change payroll; the county is directing the legislative delegation to pursue statutory authority to set the sheriff’s compensation under state law.

Next steps: the commission will transmit the approved, amended resolution to the county’s legislative delegation for drafting and consideration in Montgomery; commissioners also instructed county staff to begin or accelerate a compensation review for other county elected offices and to report back on how quickly that study can be completed and whether any findings can be presented during the current legislative session.

Ending: Commissioners emphasized public‑safety staffing needs and fiscal responsibility to taxpayers while agreeing to pursue a countywide compensation review. The resolution as amended was adopted and will proceed to the legislative delegation for consideration.