The Livingston County Sheriff’s Office is trying to raise yearly wages for deputies through a grant.

Sheriff Steve Cox has submitted the Deputy Sheriff Salary Supplementation Fund (DSSSF) grant application to the Missouri Department of Public Safety. Sheriff Cox had the approval of the Livingston County Commission, with Presiding Commissioner Ed Douglas being the grants “Authorized Official”, Sheriff Cox being the “Project Director” and County Clerk Sherry Parks being the “Fiscal Officer and Claims Point of Contact” for the potential grant.

“We are seeking to raise deputy sheriff base wages to $30,000 yearly and for 3 deputies making that amount now will receive an additional $100 per month if the grant application is approved,” Cox said.

He said Missouri Sheriffs and the Missouri Sheriffs’ Association were instrumental in getting the DSSSF grant fund passed into Missouri law. The funds are generated by each county with a small fee on civil process from the Courts. Each county is eligible to apply for the grant funds and the money is ran through the Missouri Department of Public Safety.

The grant cycle runs July 01 through June 30 each year. This grant application is seeking $21,083.04 in additional salary money for Livingston County deputies and another $6,040.29 to cover costs of fringe benefits for a total of $27,123.33.