Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Safety topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Bill raises ceiling on deputy pay to give sheriffs more flexibility
Summary
House Bill 486 would raise the statutory ceiling for deputy pay from 95% to 97% of a sheriff's salary, giving sheriffs modest additional room to increase deputy pay. Sponsor said the change does not mandate raises and counties must fund any increases.
Representative Neil Durham introduced House Bill 486 to raise the statutory maximum for deputy pay from 95% to 97% of the sheriff's salary. Durham framed the change as a modest tool to allow sheriffs more flexibility to offer pay incentives for seniority, shift differentials and specialized duties without mandating raises or providing additional state funding.
Durham said the bill emerged from constituent concerns and would not require counties to increase wages; county commissioners must still fund any changes through property-tax or county-budget decisions. Committee questions focused on whether the increase would cause compression with promoted ranks and how counties would find funds. Durham said the policy would be used for incentives and that sheriffs could use existing budget mechanisms to implement raises.
The hearing closed without recorded opposition; sponsor said he welcomed committee input and potential additions.
