Butler County sheriff’s deputy hours will be increased to enhance security and address an increasing workload.

The county salary board on Wednesday approved switching four part-time posts from irregular, working less than 1,000 hours annually, to regular, being scheduled for at least 32 hours a week.

The status change also increases those posts’ pay from $16.91 an hour to $18.06 an hour. Whoever fills those slots now will be eligible to receive individual health benefits and a pension.

The increased cost will be up to $130,000 annually.

Sheriff Mike Slupe proposed the change for security and efficiency purposes.

During Slupe’s first term in office, his deputies served more than 6,600 warrants while taking more than 12,500 trips seeking people who skipped court hearings.

“We’re doing a good job and we can do better,” he said.

As of Wednesday, more than 1,061 warrants needed to be served.

The salary board is comprised of the three commissioners and the controller. When an agenda item affects a row office, that elected official also gets a vote.

The board approved the change 4 to 1.

Commissioner Jim Eckstein dissented, saying only two posts needed the upgrade as watching the employee entrances at the rear of the government center and side of the courthouse would be superfluous.

“They’re going to be watching paint dry,” Eckstein said.

He reiterated watching employee entrances for part of each weekday does not preclude a worker from bringing a weapon inside.

The court’s security policy committee, which includes Slupe as a member, recommended deputies watch employee entrances for at least part of the day.

Slupe previously said it’s difficult for employees to be sure who is coming inside behind them when groups enter either building.

However, Eckstein questioned the validity of any recommendation of the security policy committee considering they’re appointees of President Judge Thomas Doerr.

Eckstein recalled being named a potential security risk by Doerr, who previously issued a court order for deputies to regularly patrol the commissioners offices due to dissension between Eckstein and others.

Eckstein said on one Saturday, he carried in a metal chest without anyone knowing about it.

“I could have carried anything in here,” Eckstein said. “I was not challenged.”

He stressed the chest is used only for keeping documents secure as he believes people have pilfered his office twice.

Eckstein said the security committee, which holds meetings he and his assistant cannot attend, ignored his safety concerns about the design of a proposed new office building.

“The security committee didn’t give a damn,” he said.

Controller Ben Holland said there were sufficient reasons to alter the four posts.

“This goes beyond security,” Holland said.

Eckstein insisted the status of only two posts should be modified.

“I did the math,” he said.

Eckstein pointed out the steady increase in expenses for Slupe’s office — 30 percent in four years.

“That is really high,” Eckstein said. “Where is this going to end?”

Slupe said in an interview he could not verify if 30 percent is a correct number.

“I have not analyzed that,” he said.

Slupe said the expense for the increased deputy hours would be partially offset by keeping a part-time irregular post vacant.

He said if necessary, other money could come from the revenue generated by Butler County Prison housing federal inmates.

Slupe’s deputies pick up those inmates from Pittsburgh and take them to the hospital when medical care is needed.

Eckstein also chided Holland for supporting the increased hours for deputies.

Eckstein insisted such moves would result in a county property tax increase.

“They’re making a tax hike,” he said.