SPARTANBURG, S.C. (AP) - Police in one South Carolina city will get a raise of more than 10%, and the chief says higher pay could help him recruit new officers.
The Spartanburg City Council on Monday voted to increase the starting police salary from $36,300 to just over $40,500. The council also awarded one-time bonuses to all 127 other full-time employees, the Spartanburg Herald Journal reported.
Police Chief Alonzo Thompson approached Spartanburg leaders in February to request more money for officers because their last raise was in 2016.
The budget adopted in July did not include the extra pay for police. Officials said raises are possible now because the city is in better financial shape than expected, with revenue exceeding projections by 2.5%.
City Manager Chris Story said in February that Spartanburg police officers were paid less than officers in the cities of Anderson, Clemson and Greenville.
Thompson told the newspaper Monday that higher pay will help him recruit and retain officers.
“It’s like any other business, but what has happened is that we have fallen behind,” Thompson said. “I wanted to make sure we are taking care of the people doing the work.”
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