Budget Committee rescinds original proposal for pay raises

Published 6:07 pm Wednesday, October 26, 2022

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
Danielle Morin
Elizabethton Star
The Carter County Budget Commission convened on Tuesday to discuss the proposed $5/hour wage increase for both correctional and patrol officers in Carter County, but the committee did not approve the original proposal. The deliberations began with arguments on both sides as to whether the increase would be beneficial or detrimental to the community. Major concerns included creating revenue streams with which to fund the raise and deciding who should be included in the proposal.
Because the wage increase is, in part, an attempt to prevent the jailhouse from facing decertification, some members felt that the increase should be applied only to those departments that have a direct effect on the future and certification of the jail. This would include corrections officers in the raise, but not patrol officers. Arguments from the other side stressed the importance of fairness in the issue at hand and a concern that raising wages in one income and not another could cause an influx of patrol officers to switch to a corrections officer role, leaving the streets of Carter County under protected.
Sheriff Mike Fraley stated that the Carter County Sheriff’s Office must add 22 corrections officers to payroll in order to abide by state regulations and avoid decertification, and he is confident that a change in wages to provide officers a livable wage is the best course of action to get the number of employed officers back up.
After hours of deliberation, the committee unanimously voted to rescind the original $5/hour proposal. A new proposal has not yet been put into motion, but a directive of $3-$3.50 was offered. Carter County Finance Director Carolyn Watson will use those numbers to draw up definitive figures that will be presented at the next meeting with the hopes that securing down an exact report will allow the board to make an informed and final decision.
Budget Committee Chair Aaron Frazier put the meeting in recess, to be adjourned at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 10. The meeting will be held at the Carter County Courthouse located at 801 East Elk Avenue and is open to the public.

Subscribe to our free email newsletter

Get the latest news sent to your inbox