BY MARK J. CRAWFORD
Telegraph Editor
STARKE — We previously reported on the salaries of county officials and how they compared to median income of local households.
The formula used to determine the salaries is heavily influenced by population. The numbers for 2022-23 are:
—Sheriff – $154,261.
—Clerk, Property Appraiser, Tax Collector and Supervisor of Elections – $118,412.
—County Commissioners – $37,095.
Two years out from the 2020 census, the state based these numbers on a population estimate of 28,725, and the number is not reduced by the inmate population at Florida State Prison and Lawtey Correctional Institution.
As a reminder, the county’s median household income is $43,580, according to the census. The average household size is 2.54 residents. The median income is around 37% for what most constitutional officers earn, and more than 17% of residents live in property.
Does the pay of county employees look more or less like the average resident? Of course, that depends on the job in question, and the amount of time on the job. Last year, the county faced mandates to raise the salaries of law enforcement and emergency response employees. Not all the mandates were state funded. Regardless, they are among the most well-paid county employees.
Beginning with county commission employees, who are paid out of the general fund, the county manager has the highest salary at just under $110,000. His assistant is at $41,600.
Building and Zoning has three employees: the building official earning $68,328, the zoning director earning $51,438 and the administrative assistant at $36,691.
The veterans service officer is paid $41,225 annually. The administrative assistant at the senior center earns $36,109. The county contributes between $23,044 and $34,299 to the agents in the agriculture extension office, who also earn a salary from UF. Also listed among the board employees are also two administrative secretary positions earning $29,349 and $32,531.
The community development office is dedicated to housing. Its director earns $46,779, and the program assistant earns $32,781.
The public library has a director earning $48,713, while the recently retired assistant was earning $48,568. That number – representing more than 40 years of experience — will be lower when a replacement is hired. The circulation supervisor earns $33,862, while the eight positions in circulation and programs all earn $30,493. That is also the housekeeper’s salary. The information technology position pays $36,109.
Moving on to the commission’s public works department, which covers transportation, solid waste, custodial maintenance and mosquito control, the superintendent earns $78,145 and the assistant superintendent earns $50,128. The administrative assistant earns $45,198. There is also a housekeeping and administrative support position for $32,885.
Most positions in the road department involve operating heavy equipment. We counted 14, paying between $31,200 ($15 an hour) to $41,766, although the higher end salaries include the lead grader operator and the supervisor of maintenance and housekeeping, who is also a heavy equipment operator. There is also a dump truck driver at $36,108 and a mechanic at $56,430. Any position earning an hourly wage versus a salary would also be eligible for overtime during emergencies and disasters.
Also listed were three housekeeping and custodian positions earning between $29,120 and $31,595.
As for solid waste, there were 14 full-time or part-time site attendants earning between $22,880 to $36,108. A general labor position was listed at $28,226 a year. Four driving positions, including three roll-off drivers and one dump truck driver, earn between $34,965 and $38,584. Finally, the solid waste and mosquito control director earns $54,267.
Bradford Fire Rescue is larger than public works. With most employees being dual certified, there are only three positions listed as firefighters, with two earning the required minimum $15 an hour, or $31,200. The third earns $33,072.
There are also 23 EMTs or EMT-firefighters earning $31,200. The remaining six earn between $33,072 and $35,734.
Keep in mind, however, that most fire rescue employees are not working 80 hours per pay period. They are working 112 hours. The shiftwork results in mandatory overtime, so all hours over 80 are paid at time and a half. The $15 minimum per hour becomes $22.50. By the end of the year, that amounts to $49,920, not $31,200. With a high rate of turnover and additional overtime, some crews are working 120 to 160 hours, according to Fire Chief Ben Carter.
Moving on to paramedics and paramedic-firefighters, we counted 25 positions. Again, 11 of those are listed with the $31,200 minimum. The remaining positions earn between $31,324 to $42,973, not including overtime. The Class VII paramedic earning $42,973 takes home $68,756, assuming the same 32 hours of overtime per pay period.
There are also several administrative positions and officers, beginning with the fire chief at $94,827 a year and the EMS division chief at $85,530. The next highest salary is for the longtime administrative assistant/office manager, who earns $79,997. The training captain earns $75,005. A second administrative assistant earns $52,666. The fire marshal earns $51,417.
There are also eight lieutenant positions, be they firefighter, EMT or paramedic. The pay range is from $35,090 to $47,070. Finally, is the medical director, who is paid $42,141.
The board also oversees payroll for the supervisor of elections office. In addition to the supervisor of elections with the previously listed salary, there are two deputy supervisors earning $40,643 and $56,722.
So, for the county commissioners’ departments, the median salary (absent overtime) is $32,885, with the lowest being $22,800 and highest being $109,990.
Sheriff
As afar as constitutional officers go, the sheriff has the largest staff by far covering a number of departments. In the law enforcement department, the largest salary is the sheriff’s $154,261 as calculated by the state, with a median salary of $46,229. The chief deputy earns $83,708, and the operations major earns $72,224. The captains of patrol and investigations each earn $63,872. The lieutenant in emergency management earns $62,669, and the lieutenants in investigations and school protection earn $58,285 each.
Four deputies, two in narcotics and two in investigations earn between $46,229 and $46,777. The evidence tech is paid $41,495. Three patrol sergeants each earn $53,901, while the patrol corporal earns $47,873.
Thirteen patrol deputies earn between $45,003 and $47,325, with 10 being on the lower end. The $45,000 minimum was mandated by the state. There are six additional school protection deputies with the same pay range. Up to nine part-time deputies are authorized at $14 an hour.
Rounding out the law enforcement division are the finance person at $50,634, victim advocate at $45,936, sheriff’s assistant at $40,716, and the civil clerk and front desk clerk at $31,320.
In communications, there are 11 positions earning between $35,120 and $40,340, with eight being on the lower end. Three part-time positions are authorized at $14 an hour.
Under court security, there is a bailiff earning $42,867 and a supervisor earning $52,901. Part-time law enforcement assistance comes in at $29,232.
In corrections, the major earns $72,224, the captain of operations earns $61,354, and the lieutenants of operations and administration each earn $52,586. The five sergeants in booking and security earn $46,098, minus one who earns $49,605.
There are a range of salaries among the 19 full-time correctional officers, with the highest being $47,106. Most are between $41,495 and $44,103. There are a number of part-time positions authorized at $14 an hour.
Additional jail positions include the nurse at $52,200, maintenance at $34,640, two administrative at $33,408 each and one food service at $31,320.
Rounding up the sheriff’s office are the animal control officer at $39,526, shelter manager at $29,323, part-time animal control at $13 an hour, the assistant emergency management director at $50,960 and the emergency management planner at $37,440.
Clerk
Like most other constitutional officers, the clerk of courts earns $118,412. His chief deputy clerk and finance director each earn $83,761. The court security coordinator earns $53,893, the finance and accounts payable clerk earns $54,329, the finance clerk earns $49,920, and the criminal deputy and accounts payable clerks earn $45,760.
The recording clerk earns $41,600, the child support clerk earns $36,920, and there is a floating clerk who earns $35,360. Six deputy clerks earn between $37,440 and $54,038. There is criminal court clerk at $33,280.
Property appraiser
Under the property appraiser at the previously listed salary, there is the assistant property appraiser, who earns $76,112. There are also six deputy appraisers who earn between $31,877 and $42,199.
Tax collector
The tax collector’s salary having already been listed, next up would be the administrative assistant making $65,324 and branch director making $52,965. The remaining positions are clerk positions. Two are responsible for both taxes and licensing, and they earn $39,572 and $40,000. The remaining seven are licensing clerks classified as either Level I or II. Their pay ranges from $31,200 to $35,880.
