Sheriff Tommy Romero knows that Iberia Parish voters aren’t keen on taxes, but staying competitive with neighboring law enforcement agencies and Louisiana State Police is the only way he thinks the Iberia Parish Sheriff’s Office can maintain its deputies.

Speaking at Wednesday’s Iberia Parish School Board meeting, Romero said he has lost deputies since coming into office four years ago.

The reason, he said, was simply that other law enforcement agencies pay more.

“We need to maintain these people,” Romero said. “In the last four years I have lost 20 deputies to other jobs that were paying more money. I’m not talking about a little bit of money, I’m talking about a lot of money.”

While serving on the committee to appoint the select the new state superintendent, Romero said the starting salary is $54,000 for a state trooper. Starting salaries in St. Martin Parish, Lafayette Parish, Vermilion Parish and Broussard and Youngsville are $54,000, $46,000, $45,000, $42,000 and $40,000 (for Broussard and Youngsville) respectively, he said.

“The Iberia Parish Sheriff’s Office, I’m embarrassed to tell you, is at $34,900,” Romero said.

After the State of Louisiana recently declared a state of emergency for Louisiana State Police trooper shortages, Romero predicted that deputies from surrounding agencies will move up to fill those spots. When that happens, deputies serving at the IPSO could move to those better paying jobs at other agencies as well.

“I anticipate we’re going to lose some people,” he said. “The guys and gals here want to serve the people of Iberia Parish but they can’t afford it.”

Romero’s solution is a quarter-cent sales tax that will be dedicated solely to salaries and benefits for IPSO deputies. Voting for the proposition would not only keep the IPSO competitive, Romero said, but also signal that Iberia voters support local law enforcement.

The proposition will be placed on the April 27 ballot.