Public safety pay proposals: deputies, paramedics and shift schedule changes aim to slow turnover

Supervisors reviewed a set of public-safety pay and retention proposals aimed at addressing recruitment and turnover, particularly among deputies and paramedics.

Sheriff Faulds (introduced at the meeting) described recruitment pressures and asked the board to approve market adjustments that would increase the deputy starting rate from $24.49 to $26.10 in FY27 and add longevity steps to improve retention. "Our goal is to remain competitive enough that the talented men and women choose to build their careers here in Fauquier County," the sheriff said.

Fire and rescue leadership proposed moving from a 48-hour to a 42-hour schedule, which raises the hourly rate (the county estimated an effective 14% hourly increase while keeping annual salary amounts consistent with step structures), and recommended boosting the recurring paramedic incentive from $12,000 to $15,000. The fire-rescue proposal also included a one-time $5,000 retention bonus (with clawback provisions if staff leave) to retain paramedics: "We need paramedics to work and continue to work here," the chief said, noting the county currently has about 38 paramedics but estimates a need for ~52 to reduce frequent holdovers and overtime.

Board members discussed costs and whether a recurring salary scale change would be preferable to bonus structures; staff said some measures (like a one-time retention payment) are designed to stop immediate attrition while longer-term scale adjustments and recruitment pipelines are pursued.