(KLZA)-- Richardson County Sheriff Don Pounds took his case for a pay raise and better benefits for his Deputies to the public last Thursday evening in Humboldt.
The Sheriff's office is currently understaffed on deputies having recently lost three deputies, two of them strictly due to the insurance package.
By statute there can be up to nine Richardson County Deputy Sheriff's. Pounds would also like an additional person strictly to serve as a resource officer in the schools.
Sheriff Pounds was highly critical of the health insurance plan for Richardson County employees, calling it substandard and poor quality.
The County pays for the employee's insurance but does not contribute to the family insurance plan. Pounds said it carries a $9-thousand dollar deductible and the family plan has a monthly premium in excess of $1,300.
At the current staffing level, the Sheriff says there are times when only one deputy is on duty and he says that is dangerous. The Sheriff said they are getting more calls involving guns and violence.
Recently a proposal was presented to Richardson County Commissioners for pay raises for the deputies. According to figures distributed during the meeting, a County officer would need to receive a 58.55 percent pay increase in wages and benefits to be comparable to the Falls City Police officers. That would amount to an hourly pay increase of approximately $12 - $13 per hour.
The Sheriff said the Falls City Police Officers are not overpaid, noting they deserve their pay.
Pounds asked for the public's support for the pay raises, even though it will take additional tax money to pay for the increases.
© Many Signals Communications
MOST VIEWED STORIES
Holton man killed in Jackson Co crash
Morrill pair arrested on drug, child endangerment charges
Horton City Clerk's resignation accepted Monday
Falls City man sentenced to Federal Prison
Effingham owner regains truck following theft, arrest
Cold case investigation leads to Holton warrant
Ground Broken for new Sac and Fox Trad'n Post
Local residents avoid injury in chain reaction crash
Jackson Co traffic stop leads to arrest
One held for past Atchison shooting
90 mph+ downburst winds blamed for Thursday damage
Wamego man sentenced in second fentanyl-related death
Mayetta pair arrested on meth, child endangerment charges
Stolen trailer, 4-wheeler, recovered in Atchison
Early Thursday storms leave damage, outages, locally
Juveniles face charges following Atchison break-in
Atchison Co's Oswald named honorary bailiff for KS Court
LATEST STORIES
Pawnee City School Board approves personnel changes
Hazard mitigation planning meeting set for Atchison County MO
Effingham owner regains truck following theft, arrest
Cold case investigation leads to Holton warrant
Senator Slama on tax relief efforts
SE Nebraska March unemployment report
Falls City Career Academy to open during 24-25 school year
Denim Day declared for Nebraska state colleges