County Oks Raises for Deputies, Bonds for New Jail
Tuesday, September 6, 2022 at 7:35PM Greg Wilson/Anderson Observer
Anderson County Council on Tuesday approved salary increases for law enforcement officers in the county in an effort to reward their work and keep pace with other agencies.
The base salary for officers will increase to $48,000 with built in holiday and overtime pay beginning in October, an increase for $1,400 over current the pay.
“I am very pleased with this,” said Anderson County Sheriff Chad McBride. “It is important for us to remain competitive.”
Currently comparable Greenville County salaries for officers is $49.000 and the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources officers $48,000.
Anderson County Class I officers $48,000, base salary of $42,000 plus the additional from holiday pay.
“I am extremely appreciative of county council,” said McBride. “You can’t put a price on our deputies service to the community.”
Meanwhile, council approved issuing of bonds not to exceed $55 million to construct a new Anderson County Detention Center.
The current corrections facility was built in 1956 at a time when the Anderson County Sheriff lived on the property and was designed to house 196 occupants. Currently there are more than 400 inmates. In some cases, cells meant to hold five people are currently holding up to 25 prisoners.
“Nobody is excited about spending money for a new jail, but we’re at a critical point and Anderson County has to build a facility or else the federal government will come in and build us a jail for us and send us the bill which could exceed $100 million or more,” said Anderson County Administrator Rusty Burns at the time of the study. “We’d have no control over that, our only part would be paying the bills. We want to decide what to build and what we need for the future of Anderson County."
Also on Tuesday, county council:
Approved tax incentives for a manufacturing concern which would bring 37 jobs, $25 per hour and an investment of $18 capital investment. The company is involved in laminating, dye cut, laser cut and engraving.
Approved tax incentives for a pair of businesses located in the Clemson Research Park which will will invest $5.6 million in a cooperative effort to manufacture parts for Volvo.
Heard a report on the impact of the county’s self-insurance health program. The report said the county had saved $1.1 million while providing better, more comprehensive local medical coverage.