As the Democrats continue to advance the governor’s spending bill in the special session, Governor Ralph Northam, Senate Finance Committee Chair Janet Howell, and House Finance Chair Luke Torian say they want a work-group to study the compensation structure for correctional officers within the Department of Corrections, deputy sheriffs, and regional jail officers.
“This work group will include staff from the Department of Human Resource Management, the State Compensation Board, the Department of Corrections and the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission and will deliver recommendations to the Governor and General Assembly no later than October 15, 2021,” Northam, Howell, and Torian said in their joint announcement. “We are committed to recruiting and retaining highly-qualified officers and ensuring the safety of families and communities across the Commonwealth.”
Earlier in the day, the House of Delegates passed the governor’s budget bill that includes $20 million to provide $5,000 bonuses to Virginia State Police officers and salary adjustments. $21 million is allocated for hazard bonuses for staff in prisons, jails and sheriff’s departments.
Read more on the governor’s budget proposals that already passed in the House of Delegates.
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