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A resolution adopting a salary increase for the Sheriff of the Metropolitan Government.
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WHEREAS, state law authorizes the county legislative body to increase the compensation for the Sheriff above the minimum amount set forth in T.C.A. § 8-24-102; and,
WHEREAS, state law mandates that each and every year the county legislative body shall afford sufficient compensation to the Sheriff for performing “ex officio duties,” including additional pay for serving as superintendent of the workhouse as set forth in T.C.A. §§ 5-9-101(6), 8-24-103(a)(3), and 8-24-111; and,
WHEREAS, in addition to his statutory duties and his role as superintendent of the workhouse, the Sheriff performs the following additional duties: security provision and/or oversight for all government buildings; data entry for all orders of protection within Davidson County; data entry for all criminal warrants within Davidson County; pre-trial release functions; and,
WHEREAS, in 2020, the Metropolitan Government ended its decades-long contract with a private prison corporation, resulting in the transfer of custody of over 500 new inmates to the Davidson County Sheriff’s Office; and,
WHEREAS, the Davidson County Sheriff’s Office has approximately 1,400 employees and a budget of $150 million; and
WHEREAS, the Davidson County Sheriff’s Office is the third largest agency in the Metropolitan Government, yet the Sheriff ranks 20th in pay when compared to his Metropolitan Government counterparts, making approximately $100,000 less than the Chief of Police; and
WHEREAS, over the last 15 years, the Sheriff’s salary has risen 48 percent, which is half the amount of the salary increases for the Sheriff’s counterparts; and
WHEREAS, it is recommended that the Sheriff’s salary be increased to reflect the scope and breadth of his duties and responsibilities within and on behalf of the Metropolitan Government.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE METROPOLITAN GOVERNMENT OF NASHVILLE AND DAVIDSON COUNTY:
SECTION 1. That the annual salary of the Sheriff of the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County shall be no less than 10 percent lower than that of the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department’s Chief of Police, provided sufficient funds are available in the Sheriff’s operating budget. The annual salary of the Sheriff of the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County shall remain above the minimum salary determined pursuant to T.C.A. 8-24-102.
SECTION 2. That this Resolution shall take effect on September 1, 2026, the welfare of the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County requiring it.
Agenda Analysis
Analysis
This resolution increases the annual salary of Sheriff of the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County.
Tenn. Code Ann. § 8-24-102, requires that the salary of the sheriff be at least 10% higher than the other constitutional officers. The salary set by state law for sheriff is $191,751. According to Resolution No. RS2023-2199, the current salary for the Davidson County Sheriff is $12,257.42 over the minimum salary determined pursuant to T.C.A. 8-24-102. That pay is increased under state law for this role as warehouse superintendent.
This resolution increases the salary for sheriff to no less than 90 percent of the salary of the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department Chief of Police, provided sufficient funds are available in the Sheriff’s operating budget. The proposed sheriff’s salary would be no less than $275,597.39, according to publicly available data last updated on December 5, 2025. The Sheriff’s annual salary would remain above the minimum amount as required by state law.