Rockingham County approves 3% cost-of-living increase for register of deeds and sheriff

The Rockingham County Board of Commissioners voted June 22 to apply a 3% cost-of-living adjustment to the base salaries of the county’s Register of Deeds and sheriff for fiscal year 2024–25.

The action came after the board convened a special meeting, moved into closed session under North Carolina General Statute 143-318.11(a)(1) and 143-318.11(a)(3), and returned to open session for new business. Committee member S1 moved that “the board approve applying a 3% cost of living adjustment to the base salaries of register of deeds and sheriff fiscal year 24 25,” and said the adjustment should be applied in addition to other salary changes previously approved in the budget ordinance. The motion received a second, the chair called the question, board members responded “Aye,” and the chair declared the motion carried.

The vote on the motion was taken by voice; the transcript records board members responding in favor and the chair stating the motion carried. The motion text specified both a 3% increase for the Register of Deeds and the sheriff for fiscal year 2024–25 and the application of cost-of-living adjustments consistent with those included for other employees in the fiscal year 2025–26 budget.

After approving the salary adjustment, the board approved a motion to adjourn and the chair announced the next meeting would be July 20 at 6:30 p.m. in the commissioners’ chambers.

The meeting record notes the closed-session authority cited by the chair as North Carolina General Statute 143-318.11(a)(1) and (a)(3). The transcript does not record detailed roll-call vote tallies or names of every member voting; it records voice assent and the chair’s announcement that the motion carried.