Chautauqua County is looking to make some significant pay increases to nurses who work at the county jail.

During committee meetings, Chautauqua County legislators heard from Dr. Michael Faulk, chief medical officer and county physician, about staffing issues with nurses at the jail.

Faulk noted that on average there are 170 incarcerated people at the jail on any given day and the county is legally responsible for the health of the individuals housed. “Without an appropriate medical service, we don’t have a jail,” he said.

The county not only does medical and mental health assessments on the inmates, it also runs a Medicated Assisted Treatment program for those battling drug addiction. “Our acuity when it comes to medical needs and mental health needs is very high,” Faulk said.

The jail, by its nature, has a high turnover of inmates. In 2023, the county’s medical department saw more than 9,500 patients. “It’s a very busy clinic,” Faulk said.

Faulk said nationwide there is a shortage of nurses, which makes it a competitive field and that’s impacted the jail. “Here in the county, we have an obvious wage disparity. There are many places out there, whether they be staffing agencies, nursing homes or hospitals, offering sizable signing bonuses,” he said, adding the bonuses can range from $10,000 to $15,000.

Chautauqua County’s jail nurses are paid less than Cattaraugus County nurses, UPMC nurses, state Department of Corrections nurses, Absolut Health Care nurses, Heritage Ministries nurses, and Brooks Memorial Hospital nurses.

Another challenge for the jail’s medical staff is that they must provide staffing 24 hours a day, seven days a week, including holidays.

According to Faulk, in the last year, the county has lost three Registered Nurses and one Licensed Practical Nurse who took positions elsewhere. “We really only have one RN that’s been there more than a year,” he said.

Overall, Faulk said the average starting wage for LPNs is $22.90 an hour for Chautauqua County vs. $24.39 for the regional average. For Registered Practical Nurses II (Associate level position), the average salary is $28.71 an hour for Chautauqua County vs. $33.99 for the regional average. For Registered Nurse Supervisor I (Bachelor level position) the average salary is $30.76 an hour for Chautauqua County vs. $41.77 for the regional average.

Because of the pay disparity, a resolution was introduced that would increase LPNs from grade 14 to 16, RPN II would increase from grade 19 to 23, and RNS I would increase from grade 21 to 26. All of those nurse titles would change by adding “county jail” to their title.

In addition, Registered Nurse Supervisor IV in the Public Health Department, would increase from salary grade 27 to 31. Faulk said that individual supervises both public health and jail nurses.

According to Faulk, these changes will impact the budget around $26,000 this year and around $53,500 in 2025.

Faulk said he can cover the increase in this year’s budget through savings from unfilled positions.

During the Human Services Committee meeting, Legislator Susan Parker, D-Fredonia, asked about the salary level of public nurses.

Faulk said he’s focusing on jail nurses right now because he believes they are the most “at risk,” in terms of leaving for higher pay jobs with better working hours.

Parker said she understood, but still believes more needs to be done for public health nurses. She doesn’t want to see public health nurses leaving to work at the jail.

Faulk said he doubts that would happen, in part because county public nurses have better working hours and aren’t facing the same hazards as jail nurses do.

During the Audit and Control Committee meeting, Legislator Terry Niebel, R-Sheridan, noted these pay hikes are quite substantial. “I’m going to vote for this because it’s needed, but I am concerned about some of these increases. Some of these are four and five grades. That’s a lot. That’s more than we’re used to seeing,” he said.

Legislator Bob Scudder, R-Fredonia, said although he agreed with Niebel that these increases are quite substantial, he does believe they’re needed.

The full legislature will vote on the pay raises Wednesday during its regular meeting.