As part of the 2025 budgeting process, Wayne County Council received a request that probation officers reduce their weekly hours to 37.5 while maintaining the same wages.
Kory George, the county’s chief probation officer, presented information during the Oct. 2 council and commissioners meetings about that reduction from 40 hours. The state establishes probation officers’ minimum pay, then the county has paid 2% more than that. The state set the 2025 entry level salary at $42,311.
George received survey replies from 82 counties that show Wayne County is one of 11 departments where probation officers work 40 hours, with some in other counties working as little as 32.5 hours per week. George said that creates a difference in hourly pay of nearly $5, and for the extra 2% above minimum, Wayne County’s probation officers work as much as 18.75% more hours than colleagues in other counties.