Agencies across our area have had to take another look at police pay after Myrtle Beach Police gave its officers a significant raise.
Horry County now works to stay competitive and not lose more officers. Proposed salary increases for police, sheriff and detention unveiled during day one of council’s annual retreat Thursday will be based off a dollar amount instead of a percentage increase.
If the proposal is passed, starting October 1 all first, second and third class law enforcement will get a $1 per hour pay increase. That is in addition to a three percent merit increase all county employees will receive.
According to a county presentation, right now a certified officer in Horry County makes $38,584. Under the new pay increases that officer would make $42,137. The presentation also factored in health insurance benefits and a take-home patrol car. Those numbers included bring a certified officer’s new salary to $45,837.
“There’s a created value there, whether that’s gas, getting home,” Chairman Mark Lazarus said. “When you add all that up it’s well over the $44,000 that the base pay for the City of Myrtle Beach is.”
A certified police officer in Myrtle Beach will make $44,000 under the city’s new plan.
News13 checked Myrtle Beach’s website, and the city says it pays for 100% of its employees health, vision and dental insurance. That is worth about $8,000 a year, according to the city.
