Livingston County Sheriff Steve Cox says his office has lost three full time employees to other area employers. Two others have said they’re looking for work elsewhere.

Cox says their reasons have all involved low wages and benefits, plus issues related to their being understaffed.

But this week Cox got some good news on that front.

His office received notice from the Department of Public Safety and the MOSMART Board that the county has received preliminary approval for a grant to supplement law enforcement salaries. The Deputy Sheriff Salary Supplemental Fund grant would total $24,683.

Cox hopes to raise the base salary up to $28 thousand per year for the nine sworn, non-elected employees in his department through the end of June of next year.

The grant provides for a total of $19,881.60 in salary and an additional $4,801.40 in benefit costs. The county has no match requirement or additional costs with this grant. Civilian employees are prohibited from receiving any monies from the DSSSF grant.

Presiding Commissioner Eva Danner-Horton was the Authorizing Official of the Grant Application. Sheriff Steve Cox was the author and the Project Director. County Clerk Sherry Parks will be the Fiscal Officer for the grant.