Musselshell County official says deputies' pay policy updated to reflect 2005 law allowing 97% top pay

An agency official at the Musselshell County meeting described a written revision to the deputies' pay policy that clarifies how deputies earn step increases and reach the legal maximum pay level. The official said the policy originally written in 2000 or 2001 (effective 2001) was updated after a 2005 legislative change that allows deputies to reach 97% of pay. "The maximum a deputy can make is 97%," the official said.

Under the updated local policy language described in the transcript, a deputy can reach 95% after eight years if they hold the advanced certificate and have eight years of longevity; to reach the 97% maximum, the official said an employee must hold all required certificates (intermediate and advanced) and have 10 years of longevity. The official said the change primarily affects one current employee: "Jason" is at 98% now while serving as under-sheriff and would return to 97% if he is no longer in that role. The official also noted that Sergeant Malinowski is at 95% based on existing certificates and could reach 97% after 10 years if he remains employed.

The official said they would submit the revised policy to county staff (named as "Cheryl" or "Charlie" in the remarks) and the group indicated approval in the session; no formal roll-call vote or mover/second was recorded in the excerpt. The transcript does not record implementation dates or an exact citation for the state law beyond the speaker's statement that the legislature changed the law in 2005.