TEXARKANA -- Hempstead County taxpayers have voluntarily contributed $25,000 in taxes to help fund the sheriff's office.
In October 2015, the Hempstead County Quorum Court passed a "voluntary tax" ordinance allowing residents to voluntarily contribute $10 on their annual taxes to be used for increases to salaries for Hempstead County deputies.
"I am happy to report that tax brought in over $25,000 for the current tax year," Sheriff James Singleton said. "I want to thank every citizen that took the time to think about our deputies for donating to the 'deputy salary fund.'"
In 2014, the certified deputy's annual salary for the county was $24,700, the lowest in southwest Arkansas, according to the sheriff.
"Deputies just could not make it financially and support a family on that salary," Singleton said. "This resulted in the loss of some veteran deputies that had been trained and certified to leave the employ of the sheriff's office for better-paying jobs.
"We lost some to private business but most to other law enforcement agencies. Those agencies would gain a trained officer and would not be out any training costs, plus the salary was much better."
Singleton and his staff presented a plan to raise the salaries of certified deputies about $5,300 to $30,000 annually. The Quorum Court approved the plan and the currently the salary for deputies is $30,000.
"That helped tremendously but still left our deputies some of the lowest-paid law enforcement officers in southwest Arkansas," Singleton said.
The voluntary tax funds will be distributed based on longevity as a certified law enforcement officer for Hempstead County.
To be eligible for longevity pay from the voluntary tax funds, a certified deputy must complete at least six months of service as a certified law enforcement officer with the Hempstead County sheriff's office or the Hempstead County jail.
"This includes those certified as specialized law enforcement officers, such as bailiffs and courthouse security," Singleton said.
The amount available from the tax may vary year to year depending upon the amount collected. When the tax books close at the end of October, the tax collector will report the amount of voluntary tax collected to the sheriff, who will request the funds be distributed to certified law enforcement officers in the sheriff's office and jail.
The breakdown for distribution is:
• Six months to nine years: $500.
• 10 years to 13 years: $1,000.
• 14 years to 20 years: $2,000.
• 20 years or longer: $2,500.
Singleton said money from the voluntary tax will apply only to the department's deputies.
NW News on 12/19/2016