MONROE COUNTY, Tenn. — The Monroe County Commission voted to give deputies raises on Thursday, according to a release from the Monroe County Sheriff's Office.
Sheriff Tommy Jones said on social media the commission voted 9-1 to approve the raises and add two new road deputies to the force. He also said deputies would have an "enhanced benefits package" to help MCSO recruit more deputies.
"This move not only boosts morale within the existing team but also paves the way for a stronger and more capable force to protect and serve the community," he said on social media. "This increase in pay makes Monroe County Sheriff’s Office competitive in wages, will add two new deputies and will still return over $300,000 to the fund balance."
The money to pay for the raises is coming from school resource officer grant money, MCSO said.
In July, the county commission's meeting notes showed they were considering amending MCSO's budget by more than $378,000, with the majority going toward salary increases for deputies, corporals, sergeants, detectives, narcotics, fleet, and court officers. Of that, more than $127,000 was set aside for increasing lower-ranking deputy salaries.
Editor's Note: This story was corrected to reflect the raises are being paid for by SRO grants, not tax increases.
