The Carter County Budget Committee met a final time Thursday evening to continue discussing the proposed wage increase for Carter County Sheriff’s Office employees.
Before going before the full commission board on the 21st, the committee needed to come to agreement on an amount to increase wages, produce hard numbers on what the raises would cost the county annually, and discuss ideas that could be presented to the board to fund the raises.
Many in attendance voiced grievances with the results of the previous committee’s meeting on Oct. 25 where the proposed $5 per hour increase was rescinded, with some suggesting $3.50 in its place. Jim Winchester, a community member in attendance, addressed the committee, urging, “You have to pay these people enough money that you can compete on the market and get good people, not the bottom of the barrel people.”
Mayor Patty Woodby agreed, calling the situation an “absolute disgrace.” “We’ve got to do better for our people,” said Woodby. “Law enforcement is, by far, the most important service in the county. Without it, we don’t have a community.”
Sheriff Mike Fraley said to the committee, “I want to show you that I’m working with you,” further explaining that he would agree to make changes within the sheriff’s office to help make implementing the new proposal possible.
Since his election on September 1, Fraley said he has eliminated eight corrections officer positions and streamlined three administrative positions. The structural...
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