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Oldham County fiscal court sets 2025 maximum salaries for sheriff's deputies, approves budget estimate
Summary
The fiscal court approved the sheriff's annual order setting the maximum payroll for deputies and assistants and took up the sheriff's 2025 budget estimate; the sheriff said increases would fund deputy pay, courthouse staffing and one contract deputy.
The Oldham County Fiscal Court voted to approve the annual order setting the maximum amount for sheriff deputies and assistants and discussed the sheriff's 2025 budget estimate at its Dec. 17 meeting.
Judge Executive David Vogel opened the agenda item by welcoming Sheriff Tim Wakefield. “You should have a copy that, we're gonna set the salaries for the 2025 calendar year at, dollars 2,700,000.0, give or take $2,798,640.63,” Wakefield told the court. He said the increase would cover higher deputy salaries, increases for CSO and clerical staff, the addition of four full-time positions (or the part-time equivalent) for the new courthouse, and one full-time contract deputy.
The sheriff told the court the revenue estimate tied to the office would remain at about $3,300,000 and that the $2.7 million figure represents estimated salaries. Wakefield said AOC had approved “an increase of 4 bodies, full time bodies, or 8 part time bodies at the new courthouse,” and that his presentation intentionally used a conservative (higher) ceiling so he would not be forced to exceed the approved maximum when final pay decisions are made.
Magistrates asked how the proposed increases translate to percentages. Wakefield described a roughly $648,640.63 increase overall and said the increase equates to about a 12.5% bump for road deputies and roughly 4% for CSOs and clerical staff, depending on the classification. He said the 12.5% figure was intended to keep Oldham County competitive with Louisville Metro pay scales.
Judge Vogel and magistrates emphasized the difference between setting a maximum payroll figure now and making specific employee pay decisions during the budget process in spring. “It's a tool. It's a reference to set my rate because this dollar amount, when I set it today and you approve it, it's done,” Wakefield said, noting individual raises are not final until the budget process.
On vocal affirmation the court approved the annual order setting the maximum amount for deputies and assistants and later approved the sheriff's budget estimate for calendar year 2025. The court did not record a roll-call vote in the transcript; approval was taken by voice and recorded as passing.
