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Residents, officers urge higher pay and retention measures for Carter County law enforcement
Summary
Public commenters and an on-duty officer urged the commission to address staffing shortages and low pay for deputies and correction officers, citing understaffing and low hourly wages.
During public comment at the June 21 meeting several speakers urged the commission to develop compensation and retention plans for law enforcement.
Benjamin Hall told commissioners the sheriff’s department is "understaffed by 20+ officers" and said it costs more to recruit and train new officers than to retain seasoned personnel through pay increases and benefits. Tonya Range, identified in the transcript as an officer with the Carter County Sheriff’s Office, said correction officers make $11.56 per hour and contrasted that with local private-sector wages; she urged cost-of-living raises and pay that reflects deputies’ job risks.
Commissioner Aaron Frazier and other members acknowledged the comments during discussion of budget amendments; Commissioners later noted the county’s funding contributions to rescue squads and volunteer fire departments when placing the shelter funding debate in the larger budget context. Finance Director Brad Burke addressed one budget item’s higher coroner costs as related to COVID and explained a separate IRS penalty as resulting from a missed ACH deposit during a staff emergency.
The meeting record shows public and staff concerns about pay and retention, but did not include a formal action setting new pay rates or a timeline for implementing raises; those matters remain subject to budget process and future committee action.
