Sheriff's employees to get raise

LISBON -- Employees of the Columbiana County Sheriff's Department will receive a pay increase as part of a wage-renegotiation clause in their contract.
The raise, which affects about two dozen employees, takes effect Jan. 1, Sheriff Dave Smith explained today.
The increase will cost the county about $30,000 a year, Smith said.
Once the raise is implemented, the highest-paid position affected, a lieutenant, will earn $41,527 annually plus any overtime worked.
The lowest affected position, a typist, will earn $25,833 plus any overtime worked after the raise is put into effect.
Employees also get health insurance and participate in the state pension plan.
The 3.5 percent increase is the third granted as part of a three-year contract that began Jan. 1, 2001.
Employees initially were granted a 4.5 percent increase and given the right to renegotiate wages in each of the contract's years.
Wage negotiations last year resulted in a 3.5 percent increase.
The contract expires at the end of 2003.