Committee advances bill to raise statutory cap on deputy pay

Representative Neil Durham presented House Bill 486 to the House Local Government Committee, saying the bill responds to constituent concerns that deputies could not receive raises because statutory ceilings were tied to other elected officers’ salaries. Durham said HB486 would raise the statutory maximum compensation for deputies from 95% to 97% of the sheriff’s salary across county classifications, giving sheriffs greater flexibility to increase deputies’ pay without being constrained by the statutory ceiling.

Durham explained the policy intent as relieving a binding cap rather than mandating pay increases. "It doesn't obligate the county commissioners to raise the deputy rates to that," he said, adding the proposal is "breathing room" so sheriffs can offer higher pay when budgets allow.

Members asked technical questions about statutory language. Representative Cochran asked whether the statute’s reference to "salary of the sheriff" includes base salary or other components of compensation; committee staff and the bill drafter explained that, as written in related code sections, the percentage is calculated against base salary and that longevity or other payments are treated separately. Representatives recommended clarifying the language in the executive amendment (EA) if members want to make the reference explicitly "base salary." Representative Joy noted the bill increases the maximum ceiling by two percentage points; several members said they supported the change as a tool to help counties retain deputies.

After discussion the committee moved HB486 in executive action; the bill passed out of committee by voice and proxy votes recorded at the end of the session. The transcript does not contain a detailed roll-call tally for the HB486 passage, but the committee indicated the motion carried.