With recent discussions in county government about hazardous duty retirement for deputies with the Russell County Sheriff’s Office, the question has been raised of how much implementing that change would cost the county.
The county currently pays more than $63,000 per year in retirement for 7 certified officers with the Russell County Sheriff’s Office at the regular rate of 19.71 percent. At the hazardous duty rate of 38.61 percent, that cost would rise to just under $123,700 an increase of more than $60,000.
At 10 certified officers, which is considered fully-staffed, the current rate would result in a cost of more than $90,000. With hazardous duty retirement for 10 officers, the county would incur a cost of more than $176,000.
Currently, the county pays a little more than $400,000 annually in expenses related to the sheriff’s office such as salary, retirement, insurance, social security, workers compensation, utilities, audits, and other expenses.
A proposal regarding this issue is expected to be brought before the fiscal court next month.
