Sheriff’s officer pleads for county raises

A sheriff’s officer appealed to Oconee County Council to award pay raises to county employees who, like other municipal residents, are being impacted by proposals to raise utility charges where they live. Capt. Jeff Underwood urged the council to raise taxes, as an investment in a good, quality workforce. As far as law enforcement is concerned, Underwood called attention to Seneca and Westminster that now offer starting salaries higher than that which are paid to county deputies. In Seneca’s case, according to Underwood, that city’s plan to award three percent raises to workers will mean a three thousand difference between the city and the county. Underwood acknowledged that the county, through the effort of the county administrator, has achieved lower insurance costs for its workers but they are not enough, he said, to allow the county workers to keep up with other rising costs.