SPARTANBURG, S.C. — The next Spartanburg County sheriff will receive a significantly lower salary than their predecessor, following a vote by the council to cut the position’s pay by more than half, WSPA reported.
During a special meeting on June 11, council members set the incoming sheriff’s salary at $100,000 for the first year in office, down from the $219,000 paid to former Sheriff Chuck Wright in 2023. The new sheriff will also receive a $15,000 annual stipend, the same amount previously awarded.
The decision follows discussion among council members about limiting the influence that a high salary could have on candidates for the office. Councilman Mo Abusaft, who initiated the conversation, argued that a more modest salary would help ensure the new sheriff is motivated by public service rather than compensation.
| POLICE1 SURVEY RESULTS: Officers reveal the top dangers they face in the field
“We want a candidate whose number one priority is not the salary, but the community itself,” said District 4 Councilman Grant DeShields, who originally expressed concern that $100,000 might be too low.
Council members also voiced concern over the potential power of the office, with Abusaft calling the current setup “an office that doesn’t have guardrails.”
While the pay cut drew support from most council members, some residents objected.
“A guy that gets up every day and slaps on his gun and goes out to be the sheriff or deputy in Spartanburg County and lay down his life for us ought to be compensated adequately,” Lawrence Bateman, a local resident, told WSPA.
Council members indicated the savings, more than $119,000, could be redirected to other public safety needs, including upgrades at the county detention facility or support for deputies.
The new sheriff’s salary cannot be reduced once set but may be increased. Council members said the pay will be re-evaluated after the sheriff’s first year in office.
A special election is scheduled for November to elect the county’s next sheriff.
