By Sarah Roebuck
Corrections1
FLORENCE, S.C. — Deputies and corrections officers in Florence County will be receiving a large pay raise, according to WPDE.
Florence County Sheriff T.J. Joye said certified deputies will bring home $48,388 a year, an increase from around $32,000 a year.
Corrections officers will make more than $43,000 a year.
“When you go from $32,000 to $48,000 starting for a class one certified. $48,388. That is outstanding. Money talks. You know, people need money to survive. Always been hard for law enforcement officers with the salary where it was. This puts us beyond competitive. This is a big step,” Joye told WPDE.
The Florence County Council approved a $132 million budget, which included a $3,000 increase for every county employee, the Post and Courier reported. That budget also included an additional $2,000 for Florence County Sheriff’s Department officers, along with three new positions for the sheriff’s office.
Joye said the pay increase will help attract more applicants and retain deputies and corrections officers.
Several neighboring law enforcement departments will also be increasing pay for officers.