Lawmakers may offer bill on job bonuses

State lawmakers could consider revising the law to make it clear that local governments can give bonuses to those willing to accept difficult jobs or even to other employees who find someone willing to apply for those jobs.

Some school districts currently provide incentives or bonuses to teachers willing to work at rural or troubled schools, but Charleston County's attorney has advised against the practice.

And that is posing a problem for the Charleston County Sheriff's Office, which is having trouble finding enough detention officers for its overcrowded jail, Chief Deputy Mitch Lucas said. "We're having a terrible time recruiting folks," he told members of Charleston County's legislative delegation. The more vacancies, the more stressful the atmosphere in the jail, the fewer people want to apply there.

Lucas said Florida allows such bonuses, and that makes it difficult for Charleston recruiters when they attend regional job fairs.

The county's detention center has a total of about 392 employees, and about 271 of them are detention officers. Currently, 63 of those positions are vacant.

Lawmakers seemed sympathetic, and the delegation unanimously voted to start research on a bill. State Rep. Chip Limehouse, R-Charleston, told Lucas, "We ought to change the law for you all."

State Rep. Leon Stavrinakis, D-Charleston, a former member of County Council, said the stress level in the jail is high. "How they get people to work there every day is a miracle."

Reach Robert Behre at 937-5771 or at rbehre@postand courier.com.