By Amanda Collins

Sen. Bill Stanley, R-Moneta, recently filed an amendment that calls for an adjustment to the base salaries for the Sheriffs and their deputies in Virginia. A release from Stanley’s office stated there are a number of reasons for the need.

“It’s common knowledge” that pay has been neglected by the state for years said Patrick County Sheriff, Dan Smith. Smith said that sheriffs and deputies are the “primary law enforcement for 90 percent of the land mass in the state of Virginia. Other state law enforcement agencies have had $10,000 to $12,000 pay increases over the past two years. This is why we have the highest turnover rate; it’s a 21 percent turnover rate state-wide.”

“It’s time. And it’s very much overdue,” Stanley said in the release. There aren’t any reasons why the Commonwealth’s sheriffs and their deputies should be paid at levels less than other Virginia professional law enforcement men and women. This is a pay equity issue and it’s time to give them a raise to bring their base earnings more in line with their law enforcement counterparts. It’s the correction action to take and the time is now.”

All proposed budget amendments will be considered by both chambers during the 2019 General Assembly.