Halifax County commissioners today agreed to allocate $54,000 for a classification and pay study.

Human Resources Manager Renee Perry told the board the study will begin in October with results provided to the county no later than next April.

The pay study had been previously approved by the board but a funding source had not been identified.

Staff recommended using contingency funds to pay for the study, which was based on a recommendation by Commissioner Carolyn Johnson.

“ … This could help in completing the study faster due to other entities planning for studies as part of their FY 22-23 budgets,” Perry said in supporting information presented to the board.

The Piedmont Triad Regional Council will conduct the study.

Commissioners in February had tabled the pay study as they discussed increasing pay for deputies.

At that time Perry said RTRC would compare starting salaries with those that are in the county’s market area. The board would have the option to communicate which local governments they would like to be compared. 

The council also plans to look at the county’s internal equity issues to make sure it is not creating more salary compression than the county already has, Perry said.

Last month Johnson said while she was in favor of increasing deputy pay there were additional county departments losing employees to other counties.