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Funds from Charlotte County’s CARES funding will be used to provide several employees at the sheriff’s office with a one-time bonus.

Sheriff Royal Freeman recently requested the county compensate 11 of his employees for funds that they did not receive through the Virginia Compensation Board.

Freeman requested a total compensation of $33,000.

According to Freeman, 29 of his employees will each receive $3,000, but 11 won’t.

“I am asking the board to compensate the 11 employees that would not receive it,” Freeman said during the Charlotte County Board of Supervisors (BOS) September meeting. “They do the same job, but they are not sworn or funded by the compensation board.”

According to Freeman this would be a one-time bonus.

Board Chairman Gary Walker asked if the matter could be considered in next year’s budget.

“I thought this amount would be funded within the next few months, so we can’t wait until next year,” said supervisor Kay Pierantoni.

Pierantoni motioned with Supervisor Donna Fore seconding to use CARES funding to fund the request with any remaining needed to come from the general fund.

“The sheriff is doing a tough job, and a great job, especially in this climate and we, can’t have people working in a department side by side receiving something less,” Pierantoni said.

It’s hard to find people who want to do the job anymore,” Freeman added.

The BOS unanimously approved Freeman’s request.