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Board approves $3,000 ARPA bonus for deputies and adds $1,000 from sheriff's vacancy savings
Summary
Supervisors approved a $3,000 ARPA bonus for compensation‑board funded sworn deputies and recommended matching payments for non‑comp board deputies; the board also approved a $1,000 additional payment for full‑time deputies to be covered from the sheriff's vacancy savings and authorized submission of a JAG overtime grant.
The Bedford County Board of Supervisors voted to appropriate funds to provide a $3,000 bonus under the American Rescue Plan to compensation‑board funded sworn deputies and to equalize payments for other full‑time sworn officers. The board also approved a motion to add an extra $1,000 for full‑time deputies to be paid from the sheriff's vacancy savings, following the sheriff's request.
Ashley (county staff) presented the resolution (R102521‑01) saying the compensation‑board positions number about 55 eligible funded sworn officers and that another 41 sworn positions were non‑compensation‑board roles. Staff estimated the total cost of extending the $3,000 payment and matching others would be about $267,300, with an estimated local share of roughly $95,350 that staff recommended covering from fund balance. The board approved the resolution and then approved an amendment to add $1,000 per full‑time deputy to be covered out of the sheriff's department vacancy savings, which the sheriff said he could provide.
The sheriff told supervisors that local law enforcement faces staffing strains from mental‑health calls and extended patient holds that remove deputies from patrol and stressed the morale and safety rationale for the bonus. He also said his office had saved payroll dollars through vacancies and could use that savings to fund the additional $1,000 for full‑time deputies without extra county appropriation. Board members discussed the broader budgetary effects and the likelihood that other county employees might request similar bonuses; staff said previous bonus actions and pay increases for other departments are relevant.
On related public‑safety funding, the board approved submission and appropriation of a Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) focused on targeted enforcement in "beat three" (Hardy, Stewartsville, Vinton, Goodview, Shady Grove, Faxton, Montvale, Chamblissburg, parts of Moneta). The JAG application would provide roughly 960 overtime hours for deputies assigned to targeted enforcement and requires a 25% local match, which the sheriff said could be covered from overtime budget and vacancy savings.
The resolutions and grant submission were approved by voice vote. The board directed finance and staff to finalize appropriation details and to track the fund‑balance and vacancy‑savings accounting tied to the sheriff's additional payment.
