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GATESVILLE – A proposal to increase the minimum starting salary for certified deputies of the Gates County Sheriff’s Office has been approved.

The Gates County Board of Commissioners, at their regularly scheduled meeting on Sept. 18, voted unanimously to increase the annual salary for a certified deputy to $45,000. The previous starting salary was $36,914 annually.

Prior to making their decision, County Manager Scott Sauer briefed the commissioners on the efforts of staff to explore options to provide a more competitive starting salary to assist Sheriff Ray Campbell with recruiting new deputies as well as the retention of existing staff. Sauer indicated that Human Resources Director Warren Perry was particularly concerned about the county’s lack of competitiveness, particularly on the heels of recent announcements in Chowan, Northampton and Perquimans counties where starting deputy salaries have been increased in the $50,000 to $52,000 range annually.

Finance Director William Roberson examined the current appropriation for the Sheriff’s Office, lapsed salaries, and identified adequate flexibility in the budget to cover a midyear adjustment, taking the minimum salary for certified deputies to $45,000 and providing adjustments for mid-level positions to address salary compression for existing staff based on years of service to Gates County.

The compression part of the equation allowed seven current deputies, each with two to four years of service, to receive annual raises between 6 percent and 11 percent. One newly hired deputy was bumped up in salary by 17 percent while an 11-year veteran gained a 9 percent pay hike.

Sauer explained that none of the upper level officers (the Sheriff, the Chief Deputy, and the Investigator) received raises.

“This proposal was developed in response to several conversations with Sheriff Campbell about the recruiting challenges in filling vacant positions,” Sauer noted.

Commissioner Brian Rountree stated his opinion that focusing on staff recruitment is key to retaining employees.

Vice Chair Jonathan Craddock stressed his appreciation that the county was able to take this needed action while remaining within the county’s financial means.

Craddock motioned to approve the Sauer’s recommendation to bring the minimum salary to $45,000 for certified deputies and compression adjustments for existing staff in the Gates County Sheriff’s Office. Commissioner Linda Hofler offered a second to the motion, which passed without objection.

The salary adjustments are effective Oct. 11.