The Butte County Sheriff's Office will begin offering sign-on bonuses for corrections officers.
The board of supervisors unanimously approved a resolution this week that the sheriff’s department hopes will help fill 24 corrections openings.
Novice recruits will be offered a $10,000 bonus, while those with experience would see an extra $30,000. The bonuses would be split into three parts for recruits.
For recipients of the $10,000 bonus: $2,500 would be paid after hiring; another $2,500 after training; then the remaining $5,000 after one year. The same structure is in place for the $30,000 bonus, but in increments of $10,000.
Currently, an entry-level corrections officer earns $49,000 per year.
But some wonder what would keep new hires from jumping ship. It was a question Supervisor Tami Ritter asked Sheriff Kory Honea at this week’s supervisors meeting.
“My hope is that if they are enticed by that, they apply, they get hired, that ultimately they find real purpose and that they like our culture,” Honea said. “We try to build a culture that people like, that they want to be part of and build that loyalty.”
The bonuses will be covered by a one-time allocation of state funds and are taxable but not pensionable. The program will last one year.
