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Committee advances ordinance to exempt critical public-safety hires from reduced starting pay
Summary
The committee voted to send an ordinance to the full quorum court that would allow the county to exempt certain critical public-safety positions from a policy that reduces starting pay for uncertified hires to 85% of market rate. The sheriff told members the exemption is needed to remain competitive when recruiting deputies and jailers.
The Pulaski County Budget Committee voted to forward an ordinance (25I36) to the full quorum court with a due-pass recommendation that would create exemptions in the county personnel policy for critical public-safety positions so uncertified hires would not automatically be limited to 85% of the fair-market starting rate.
Why it matters: County officials said the current policy, which sets uncertified hires at 85% of the fair-market rate, yields a starting pay in some positions of about $44,000 and makes it difficult for the sheriff's office to compete with nearby agencies. The proposed exemption would apply to a narrowly defined set of critical public-safety roles, including detention officers, deputies and sergeants, according to the sheriff and staff.
What was said The sheriff explained the issue to the committee, saying deputies often complete training and then do not receive certification paperwork in time; under the current policy their pay can be reduced after certifications are delayed. The sheriff said reducing starting pay in those positions has hindered recruitment and left vacancies in enforcement. He told the committee: "If we bring them in at 85%, that's gonna be a salary of 44,000, which is one of the lowest paid positions in Pulaski County." (Sheriff)
Committee members pressed for detail about the time allowed for certification, comparisons to other agencies and the limits of the exemption. County staff and the sheriff said recruits have up to a year after hire to receive certification and that the exemption would be narrowly targeted. The sheriff and committee members compared entry-level rates across nearby agencies; staff said the fair-market rate used in county policy was about $52,200.
Vote and next steps The committee voted to move the ordinance to the full court. The committee roll call on 25I36 recorded 12 ayes and 1 abstention. If the full quorum court approves the change, the personnel policy will be amended to permit county HR to hire certain critical public-safety positions at the standard market rate even if certification is pending. The sheriff's office said it will use the exception to improve recruitment and reduce vacancy levels.
Ending: The measure will now be considered by the full quorum court; committee members requested that HR and the sheriff provide implementing language that clearly limits the exemption to specific positions and timeframes.
