Commissioners vote to fully fund sheriff’s FY2027 budget request
The Worcester County Commissioners this week approved a new pay package that replaces a percentage-based cost-of-living increase with a flat $4,000 raise for county employees while fully funding a $22 million budget request from the sheriff’s office.
County officials said the $4,000 raise, which would take effect after the budget is finalized next month, would apply to more than 600 full-time employees across county government.
Commissioner Eric Fiori made the motion to alter the proposed 3% COLA in favor of the $4,000 across-the-board raise at Tuesday’s budget hearing. The vote was unanimous, 6-0, with Commissioner Jim Bunting absent.
Sheriff Matt Crisafulli called the decision a “landmark” moment for his agency, saying the raises could make Worcester County one of the highest-paying law enforcement agencies on the Eastern Shore.
After Tuesday’s budget meeting, the mood was upbeat in the ground-floor offices of the sheriff’s department in Snow Hill.
“It feels like we won the Super Bowl,” Crisafulli said. “This is exciting not only for our men and women, but for our community.”
Under the new compensation structure, Crisafulli plans to bump starting pay for sheriff’s deputies from $63,128 to more than $70,000 – putting Worcester County even with neighboring Wicomico County, where deputy pay jumps to $70,000 as of July 1.