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Stanley council approves new police salary ranges and revamped longevity incentives to address shortages
Summary
With the police department operating at 9 of 16 positions, the council approved changes to pay ranges and a restructured longevity plan (tiered incentives for early years) intended to improve recruitment and retention; council said the budget will absorb the cost using funds from vacant positions.
Town Manager Heath Jenkins told the council the town’s police department is facing a staffing shortage and that the pool of qualified applicants has shrunk statewide, making competitive pay necessary to attract officers.
Jenkins outlined two approaches: adjust salary ranges (including increases that may affect current employees) and restructure longevity incentives to reward early‑career officers (tiers for 1–3 years and 3–6 years, with the longevity maximum reached after six years). He said the existing budget can cover the changes by funding them from positions that remain vacant.
Public Safety Director Derek Summey said the department would operate within the existing budget and that the town was offering two positions to help fund the recruitment proposal.
Jenkins also stressed the cost of turnover, citing training and equipment expenses and officer burnout as reasons to act.
Council Member Drew Stewart moved to approve the new salary changes and the longevity incentive; Council Member Marsha Miskelly seconded. The motion passed unanimously (5-0). The council did not specify exact dollar amounts in the meeting minutes.
