Clark County pay raises emphasize sheriff’s deputies

The base salary for sheriff’s deputies in Clark County, Arkansas will be $39,398 starting in 2024

By JOEL PHELPS | arkadelphian.com

Meeting in special session Monday, the Clark County Quorum Court unanimously approved pay increases for all county employees and elected officials.

Deputies at the Clark County Sheriff’s Office will be the recipient of a $5,000 pay increase. Jail staff will earn an additional $4,000 in 2024, bringing that base salary to $31,838. Dispatchers, too, will earn more next year, with a $3,000 raise to make a base salary of $30,838. Prior to the pay scale increase, dispatchers and jailers started at the same base rate. 

Dispatchers will now be paid from the county’s 911 fund, which county Judge Troy Tucker reported to contain more than $2 million. At some point in the next year or so, sheriff’s office dispatchers are expected to consolidate with their counterparts at the Arkadelphia Police Department under one roof to handle all of Clark County’s 911 calls.

District 2 Justice of the Peace Michael Ankton questioned whether the 911 fund would consistently operate independently from the county’s jail fund. Tucker swiftly opined that it wouldn’t. With revenues from phone fees, the 911 fund generates roughly $450,000 per year, Tucker said. While the move does relieve the jail financially, Tucker said, it wouldn’t be enough to fully operate 911 communications. “The answer to that question is no — I don’t think so in the future,” Tucker said. However, the judge said the county may begin collecting revenue from municipalities that opt in for the county’s dispatching services.

Beginning in 2025 the state of Arkansas will fund only one Public Service Answering Point (PSAP) for the county. The sheriff’s office houses one of the county’s two PSAPs, and dispatches for Caddo Valley, Amity and Gurdon at no cost to any of the cities. The CCSO handles all but about 10% of the 911 calls made in the county. The APD houses the other PSAP and, until recent years, handled Caddo Valley’s emergency calls, but at a cost. Tucker said most Arkansas counties charge an administrative fee for dispatching services.

While Clark County has a hefty $2 million cushion in its 911 fund, Tucker said that is thanks to the jail fund being used for dispatchers’ salaries. He added that 911 operations statewide face a financial quagmire because there isn’t enough revenue generated from fees to cover the expenses associated with operating a 911 call center. How Clark County will subsidize its 911 fund, Tucker said, would have to be addressed in the future.

Elected officials are set to receive a $3,000 raise with the proposed 2024 budget, and general county employees will get an added $1,000 to their annual salaries.

The decision to put an emphasis on law enforcement was made to combat high turnover within that department and to offer competitive salaries compared to communities of similar population. District 4 Justice Albert Neal, noting he was in favor of raises for deputies, raised an issue with neglecting those who work in sanitation and roads. Tucker responded that he would like the Quorum Court to revisit those salaries at the beginning of the year.

District 3 Justice Vanilla Hannah was vocal in her support of raises at the sheriff’s office, saying it’s imperative that the county tries to “retain good employees” and that other raises should be considered in the future. “This is the beginning” of higher salaries for county employees, Hannah said.

District 5 Justice Jimmy King also was supportive of future endeavors but cognizant of the county’s financial reality. “Everybody deserves more, but nobody’s going to turn down $1,000,” King said. “We’ve got to start somewhere.”

While the pay increases were set, the county’s 2024 budget was not adopted at Monday’s meeting. On Friday, Nov. 17, the court’s Budget Committee, consisting of three members that day, gave its nod to send the budget to the full court. The budget was delivered to justices the following Wednesday, just ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday, and some justices said they need more time to review the figures before casting a vote. An attempt to adopt the budget as presented failed in a 7-4 vote, with justices Neal, Michael Ankton, Zach Bledsoe and David Forthman dissenting.

The court is expected to make a decision on the 2024 budget at its December meeting.