Okla. Stat. tit. 19, § 19-180.65: Deputies and other help

A. The officers named in paragraph 1 of Section 180.61 of this

title shall have such number of regular or technical deputies,

assistants, investigators, evidence persons, aides, stenographers or

reporters, technicians, undersheriffs, jailers, matrons, handwriting

and fingerprint experts, probation officers, juvenile officers,

bailiffs or other help, whatever title the principal officer may

ascribe to the duties or functions to be performed as authorized by

law and clearly related to the proper accomplishment of lawful

functions, whether on whole or part-time basis, at such rates of

salary or pay, subject to the provisions of this section as

hereinafter set forth, as the principal officer may propose and

establish the need of and which the county excise board may approve,

for the adequate accomplishment of the functions of the office and

the performance of the duties imposed thereon by law, with due

weight being given to employment on whole or part-time basis.

However, no such employments shall exceed the amount of lawful funds

appropriated for such purpose, provided however, nothing in this

section shall be interpreted to prohibit additional salary payments

or stipends paid from the Sheriff's Service Fee Account.

B. Each principal officer named in paragraph 1 of Section

180.61 of this title, except judges, shall designate of record in

the office of the county clerk a first or chief deputy, undersheriff

or assistant who shall be chargeable with all the duties of such

principal officer, while subject to the direction of the same. The

first or chief deputy, undersheriff or assistant shall carry on the

duties of the office during the absence of the principal officer or,

in the event of the death, removal or resignation of said principal

officer, until a successor shall have qualified. During periods of

vacancy of the principal office, resulting from the death, removal

or resignation of the principal officer, the chief deputy,

undersheriff or assistant shall be bonded in the same manner and in

the same sum as required for the principal officer.

C. No deputy, as defined in paragraph 2 of Section 161 of this

title, shall receive a salary in excess of the principal officer.

Any employee employed to perform duties that are not in assistance

to a county officer in the performance of the official duties of the

county officer including, but not limited to, specialized or

technical duties, may receive a salary in excess of a county

officer. The salaries set forth in this subsection within the

limitations shall be such amounts as the principal officer may

propose and establish the need for and which the county excise board

may approve within salary and staffing requirements as may be

prescribed by law. The numerical rank of any deputy or assistant to

be effective must be by designation of the principal officer by the

signature of the principal officer and filed with the county clerk.

The numerical rank of any deputy or assistant shall be within the

sole discretion of the principal officer.

D. The board of county commissioners shall continue to have the

authority to recommend the total amount of funds that can be used

for the combined salaries in each of the county offices covered by

this title. However, the approval of the funding for such offices

shall continue to be the responsibility of the county excise board.

County officers shall have no authority to make salary commitments

beyond the amount of the funding so provided.

E. The county excise board shall meet with each of the

principal officers of the county in budget planning conference or

conferences, before July 1 of each year, to discuss personnel needs

for each office for the succeeding fiscal year. The excise board

shall provide the principal officers a tentative estimate of

anticipated revenues for the next fiscal year prior to the budget

so provided.

E. The county excise board shall meet with each of the

principal officers of the county in budget planning conference or

conferences, before July 1 of each year, to discuss personnel needs

for each office for the succeeding fiscal year. The excise board

shall provide the principal officers a tentative estimate of

anticipated revenues for the next fiscal year prior to the budget

planning conferences.