PITTSYVANIA COUNTY, Va. – Pittsylvania County is hoping to retain and attract law enforcement officers by increasing their salaries. At a meeting Tuesday night, the Pittsylvania County Board of Supervisors approved a 10 percent salary increase for all sheriff’s deputies. The move followed a request by Sheriff Mike Taylor and is in response to rising law enforcement salaries across the region.

In other action, the board approved siting agreements for three solar projects that will generate approximately $41 million in County revenue over the next 35 years.

Pittsylvania County will also extend the reassessment process by up to 90 days to allow for more property owners to complete the informal appeals process with Brightminds.

In Danville, city council reversed course Tuesday, approving a state requirement to move local elections from May to November. The measure passed by a narrow 5-4 margin, with all members on council present for the vote.

Tuesday’s vote followed an earlier motion to shift the elections, which failed by a 4-4 tie during council’s Dec. 7 meeting. Councilman Sherman Saunders was not in attendance at the earlier meeting.

Council also voted unanimously to increase the local sales tax by 1% to cover millions of dollars in improvements to the city’s schools. The measure was approved by voters in November.

A similar referendum failed in Pittsylvania County by a narrow margin.