Under a bill working its way through the Legislature, sheriffs in Mississippi would see a dramatic pay raise.
Carroll County Sheriff Jerry Carver says it’s a well-deserved pay hike. The second-term sheriff said that, other than a $5,000 supplement he received from the county soon after taking office in 2008, his salary has remained unchanged.
“All your necessities go up, gas and everything,” Carver said. “The money has to come from somewhere to pay for this stuff, and if your salary doesn’t go up with it, you’ll go in the hole some way.”
Carver currently makes $61,400 a year in salary for his role as sheriff. He receives an additional $15,600 for administering the regional correctional facility in Vaiden.
Under the legislation, which was passed by the House and is currently being considered in the Senate, Carver would apparently receive an $18,600 raise in base pay, bringing his total annual compensation to $95,600.
House Speaker Philip Gunn, R-Clinton, told The Clarion-Ledger of Jackson that the pay increase would come from fees that were raised by another bill, back in 2007.
Gunn said the 2007 fee hike was intended to provide a raise to sheriffs but ended up going to county general funds instead after a tandem bill to authorize the raises died that same year.
Leflore County Sheriff Ricky Banks said it was high time for the Legislature to put through a pay hike.
“I think it should’ve been done back in 2007,” Banks said.
Banks said sheriffs across the state put in long hours enforcing the law, transporting prisoners and mental patients, providing security at county courts and responding to road accidents.
“It’s not just arresting somebody,” Banks said. “I’m at work every morning at 7 o’clock reading reports, and I leave at 7 at night.”
Banks added that he’s on call 24 hours a day and often personally responds to major crimes in the county.
Carver said he also puts in very long hours.
“Usually it’s a minimum of about 60 hours a week,” Carver said. “Sometimes it’ll run up close to 80, depending on what’s going on. I’m on call all the time. I get up, go out all night and sometimes have to come back the next morning.”
Banks said the potential raise wouldn’t hit Leflore County finances as hard, since he’s already technically retired and receives his pension from the state. He only draws one-fourth of his salary from the county.
Under the bill, Banks’ base salary would rise from $72,400 to $90,000 — though he said he would continue to receive just one-fourth of that from the county.
nContact Bryn Stole at 581-7235 or bstole@gwcommonwealth.com.
