by Olivia P. Tucker
Times Reporter
Scott County Council held a workshop on Tuesday, Aug. 22, to discuss the plans for possible pay raises of the Scott County deputy prosecutors and Scott County Sheriff deputies.
Scott County Prosecutor Chris Owens said that currently, two deputy prosecutors have left working at Scott County. Even though both told Owens that they loved working with him and Scott County, however, they left due to higher paid opportunities.
Currently salaries of the deputy prosecutors are as the 1st trial deputy $79,000, the criminal and child support deputy makes $69,000 and the other two deputy prosecutors make $67,000, Owens told the council.
Owens wants the council to increase the 1st trial deputy salary to $95,000 and everyone else will receive $79,000 to be able to compete with the rates of the surrounding counties.
Owens said that for 2023 he would not be asking for an additional appropriation of funding for the pay raises and the raises can be sustained for 2024.
Scott County Sheriff Jerry Goodin is seeking Pay increases for his department for the same reasons: to keep quality employees working in law enforcement in Scott County.
He is seeking a $5 per hour raise for all the sheriff’s deputy and jailers. Like Owens, he wouldn’t have to ask for an additional appropriation for 2023 but wants the pay raise for the sheriff’s department for 2024.
Goodin said that the increase in pay rate would allow Scott County to be able to compete with the wages of other policing agencies to be able to keep deputies in Scott County. The current pay is more average or middle of the road compared to the surrounding departments, he said.
His proposed plan to accommodate the raises for 2024 would save the county over $200,000, said Goodin.
Paige Sansone, CPA partner of Baker Tilly in Indianapolis, the county’s financial consultant, said that the current proposed budget is sustainable and that it matched the annual receipt. She said she felt confident that it would be a sustainable budget.
The County Council didn’t make any decisions on the requested raises, however, the matter will be voted on at their next meeting on Sept. 12.