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Carter County approves $5-per-hour raises for Sheriff’s staff after public pleas
Summary
After multiple public commenters urged the county to address understaffing, the Carter County Board of Commissioners approved $5-per-hour raises for road officers and a separate $5 raise for remaining sheriff’s employees, with abstentions noted on the first motion.
The Carter County Board of Commissioners on Nov. 21 approved pay increases for Sheriff’s Department personnel after a string of public comments urging action on understaffing and officer safety. Two separate motions—one for road officers and a second for remaining sheriff’s employees—passed during the meeting.
Public comment preceded the vote, with multiple residents urging higher pay to retain officers and address injuries on the job. Chris Little said the role has changed, noting that “the job wasn’t the same as it was 20 years ago.” Others who spoke in favor included Don Hlavaty, Jennifer Lucas, Tracy Holiday, Charles Von Cannon, Brittney Tipton and Roy Livingston.
The first motion, moved by Budget Committee member Aaron Frazier and seconded by Kelly Collins, increased pay by $5 per hour for road officers—including deputies, detectives and school resource officers—at an estimated total cost of $1,230,528.00. The electronic vote recorded twenty-two yes votes and two abstentions (Bradley Johnson and Pattie Duffield), and the motion carried.
A subsequent motion, also moved by Aaron Frazier and seconded by Gary Kemp, extended a $5-per-hour increase to remaining Sheriff’s Department employees at an estimated cost of $272,706.00. That motion passed with the same recorded tally pattern (twenty-two yes, two abstain).
The raises were presented as a county-funded response to retention and safety concerns raised in public comment and committee deliberations. No amendments or implementation timeline beyond the vote were specified on the record. The commission continued its agenda after the votes.
