Frederick County Legislators Discuss Boosting The Sheriff’s Salary

An bipartisan, ad hoc committee will be researching the issue.Maryland State HouseAnnapolis, Md (KM) Members of the Frederick County Legislative Delegation on Friday discussed a proposal to raise the Sheriff’s salary. A bill presented by Senator Bill Folden would tie the pay of the Sheriff to that of a Lieutenant Colonel in the Maryland State Police. “It would make it commensurate with the other areas around such as Carroll County. Their Sheriff is commensurate with a Lieutenant Colonel in the State Police. And that’s what this bill does,” Folden says.Delegate Ken Kerr didn’t think it was a good idea. “The Lieutenant Colonel answers to somebody. He can be fired. The Sheriff answer to no one and can’t be fired,” he said.The annual Salary of a Lieutenant Colonel in the Maryland State Police is $193,000.  The Sheriff makes $125,000 a year.William Valentine is a Delegate representing parts of Carroll and Frederick Counties. “I’m not set on the State Police pay scale. But I am really advocating for a tie to some pay scale so we don’t have to revisit this every four years,” he said.During the discussions, Senator Karen Lewis Young proposed a bipartisan ad hoc committee of two delegates and  two senators be formed to research this issue. “We can that research in a week, two at the most; and get a letter of support from the County Exec who has to build this into the budget. And we can come back with a bipartisan recommendation that would go along with our legislation,” she said.No action was taken by legislators who will be awaiting the results of the ad hoc committee.  Any bill passed by the Maryland General Assembly which raises the Sheriff’s salary would not take affect until after the 2026 election.The Sheriff is a state official and that’s why General Assembly action is needed when it come to a salary increase.Delegate chair Jesse Pippy said he’s been in the General Assembly for seven ears, and the issue of the Sheriff’s salary has been around for five years. He says something needs to be done. “I don’t want to hear it’s about the guy or the person there now. It’s need to a workable solution, and as a group we’re going to be voting on  something in the next couple weeks  related to this. It’s ridiculous. We need to put this to bed and be done with it,” he said.Similar comments came from Delegate Chris Tomlinson who represents Carroll and Frederick Counties. “Based on the responsibilities that come with being a sheriff in a county such as Frederick, a growing county, we got to get this thing done. It seems like we’re just kicking the can,” he says.The Delegation’s next meeting is Friday, January 31st at 9:00 AM.By Kevin McManus