Bertie–Martin jail officials propose pay increases, signing bonuses to address staffing shortfalls

Bertie–Martin Regional Jail Administrator Terrence Whitehurst told Martin and Bertie County leaders at a March 26 special joint meeting that the jail is operating with critical staffing shortages and recommended pay and incentive changes to retain experienced officers and recruit new hires.

Whitehurst proposed giving current jail employees a 2 percent pay increase for each year of service to address pay compression and called for a review of base salaries. He told the boards that "the aim would be to reward those employees for their loyalty and excellence in service," and warned that hiring new employees at a higher starting salary than long‑time staff would be counterproductive.

Whitehurst reported that seven of 26 detention positions remain unfilled and that one long‑time employee is on medical leave and may retire, which would further reduce institutional experience. He said the facility’s gender balance has shifted from roughly 65–70 percent male historically to about 50 percent male and 50 percent female and that staff have often covered shifts without taking vacations or holidays to maintain operations.

Commissioners and county managers pressed for data on why employees are leaving, whether exit interviews have been conducted, how the jail’s pay compares with similar facilities and what liabilities understaffing might create. County managers were directed to compile concrete financial documentation to show the budgetary implications of proposed raises and incentives and to schedule a follow‑up meeting.

Officials and staff offered a menu of possible recruitment and retention measures. Suggestions recorded at the meeting included up‑front sign‑on bonuses in the range of $2,500 to $5,000; a loyalty bonus paid after two to three years; staged longevity incentives paid at marginal service milestones; referral incentives for existing employees; establishing recruitment pathways with the sheriff’s offices that could include Basic Law Enforcement Training; reconsidering whether sheriffs should serve on the BMR Jail Commission; and exploring an apprenticeship program with the local community college that could offer college credits.

Chairs of the participating bodies — Martin County Chair Elmo “Butch” Lilley, Bertie County Chair Ernestine Byrd Bazemore and BMR Jail Chair and Martin County Commissioner Dempsey Bond Jr. — voiced support for finding a solution and asked staff to return with budget options. The three governing bodies unanimously approved the meeting agenda at the start of the session and later unanimously approved adjournment motions; the special meeting ended at about 8:15 p.m.

Next steps identified at the meeting were for managers and staff to assemble detailed cost estimates and for the boards to reconvene to consider specific budget amendments or incentives once financial impacts are clear.