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Police chief proposes 7% pay increase to address recruitment; finance director flags higher fully loaded cost
Summary
Chief Brad Mathis told commissioners that starting pay has fallen behind neighboring agencies and proposed a 7% raise (starting pay target roughly $43,879); Finance Director Anderson said the fully loaded cost of a 7% raise would be about $142,000, including benefits.
Police Chief Brad Mathis told the North Wilkesboro Board of Commissioners the department is struggling to recruit and retain officers and asked for pay increases to be more competitive with nearby agencies.
Chief Mathis said Wilkesboro’s starting salary is $43,350 with educational incentives and proposed a 7% increase (including cost-of-living) that he said would set a comparable starting wage at about $43,879. "For most of the last 25 years the town was close to Wilkesboro and the Sheriff’s Department, but we have fallen behind," he said.
Mathis recommended a 7% increase across the department. He estimated the raise would cost roughly $98,000. Finance Director Anderson provided a different, fully loaded estimate, saying a 7% raise would total about $142,000 when FICA, 401(k) and retirement contributions are included. Commissioners discussed salary compression — that raising starting pay could make some current officers earn less than new starters — and prior eliminations of positions to accommodate pay changes.
No action was taken; commissioners asked staff to provide precise cost scenarios and potential offsets for consideration during budget deliberations.
