Probation director asks for targeted raises, cites retention and extra duties

Linda Baker, director of Probation Services, asked the Coffee County Budget & Finance Committee on Jan. 23 to approve higher pay for probation staff and modest increases in several operating lines as the department competes for workers and absorbs rising costs.

Baker told the committee she proposed raising the director’s salary from $55,306 to $57,000 and boosting probation-officer pay so a senior officer would earn about $48,000. She said six probation officers are currently budgeted at $252,903 in total and proposed increasing that total to about $274,000 so newer officers would move to $45,000 and one particular second-longest-serving officer would move to $46,000. Baker asked for $2,900 more for four officers (about $11,600 total) and described one officer who steps into multiple roles when the administrative assistant is on leave.

Baker said she was not requesting “willy-nilly” spending and cited a 2021 salary study that showed the office was behind neighboring counties. She also sought smaller increases in supplies, communications (calls, AT&T, Google, Twilio), case-management maintenance, copier and IT backup contracts (about $450), tuition and training (roughly $200 per staff member), and uniforms ($500).

Committee members pressed Baker on how last year’s across‑the‑board raise was distributed. Baker said one officer received more because of tenure and consistent extra work. Committee members noted the 8–8.5% pool approved last year had been left to department heads’ discretion and agreed clearer guidance is needed this year if commissioners want part‑time and full‑time raises handled differently.

No formal action was taken; the presentation was received for the committee’s budget deliberations.

Ending: The probation budget will be considered again as the committee refines countywide guidance on raises and finalizes department budgets.