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Potter County approves certificate pay expansion and reallocations to help retain deputies and jailers
Summary
Commissioners approved a certificate‑pay expansion (estimated $183,540 annually) and agreed to reallocate unfilled positions and CAD funds to provide initial funding for deputies, jailers and telecommunicators while asking staff for detailed distribution plans.
Sheriff's office representatives told commissioners that pay gaps are driving deputies to leave for nearby agencies and asked the court to approve a phased set of pay changes. The sheriff's association proposed a certificate pay expansion—monthly bonuses tied to certification levels—that the sheriff's office said would add about $183,540 annually if fully implemented across peace officers, corrections officers and telecommunicators.
Commissioners debated whether to apply funds uniformly or focus initial dollars on front‑line deputies and jailers. Several elected officials offered to free funds by removing unfilled positions; the court voted to reallocate certain unfilled non‑custodial positions and other savings and approved the initial certificate‑pay funding on a 5–0 vote, directing sheriff administration and auditor staff to finalize distribution mechanics and provide an apples‑to‑apples salary comparison (local counties vs. municipalities) before implementing broader raises.
A sheriff's representative summarized the retention problem, saying deputies are paid “10 to 23% below state average” in some ranks and that the office has lost roughly 15 staff in the past year. Commissioners said they support efforts to close gaps but requested more precise comparisons to similarly situated counties and options for phasing changes to avoid unsustainable recurring commitments.
