MOHAVE COUNTY – Mohave County sheriff Doug Schuster has asked for a funding boost while the board of supervisors anticipates adopting a spending plan for the next fiscal year on Aug. 2. Schuster told supervisors Monday that some progress has been made in the last couple of years as the department has worked to raise pay and reduce compression issues.
But Schuster said more upward salary adjustments are needed to attract and retain personnel, particularly entry level deputy and detention positions.
Schuster told supervisors he loses sleep at night over the low level of pay for jail staff. He said position vacancies trigger mandatory overtime, resulting in burnout and resignations.
After seeking six new deputy positions and pay raises at a cost of $1.5-million, Schuster told supervisors that he was doubling his request to $3-million. He also told the board that $10-million would be enough to correct compensation and staffing issues throughout the department.
Dave Hawkins
