Richland County's 9-1-1 dispatchers have a new employment contract, that was approved Thursday by the commissioners.

The two-year deal does not include across-the-board raises, but does give some of them "equity adjustments" that will raise their pay.

Human Resources Director Kelly Cicolani says this makes up for a disparity in which some newly-hired dispatchers were paid as much as their more experienced counterparts.

The money for the equity adjustments became available when an equipment purchase was covered by a grant.    

The commissioners also approved hiring four more dispatchers, to bring the staff to sixteen and reduce overtime and stress from overwork.