(a)    This section applies only in Wicomico County.

(b)    The Sheriff of Wicomico County shall receive an annual salary of the greater of:

(1)    $58,000 in calendar year 1998 and thereafter; or

(2)    The salary set by the County Council of Wicomico County before the start of the term of office.

(c)    (1)    (i)    The Sheriff shall appoint a chief deputy at a salary set by the County Council, payable in equal monthly installments.

(ii)    The chief deputy’s term of office coincides with the Sheriff’s term of office.

(iii)    The chief deputy may be removed by the Sheriff at any time.

(2)    The Sheriff may appoint additional deputies as the Sheriff and the County Council deem necessary, each of whom shall receive the compensation prescribed by the personnel rules and regulations of the county.

(d)    (1)    The Sheriff shall be allowed an additional amount to defray all expenses of the office, including necessary automobile mileage allowance at the rate of at least 6 cents per mile for automobiles used by the Sheriff and deputies in performing their official duties.

(2)    Notwithstanding paragraph (1) of this subsection, mileage may not be allowed if automobiles are furnished to the Sheriff by the County Council.

(3)    Necessary expenses for telephone and telegraph, and clerical assistants will be allowed if approved by the County Council.

(e)    (1)    (i)    The Sheriff shall submit properly authenticated requisitions containing a full and complete statement under oath setting forth all of the expenses for a month, including the names of all deputies and assistants, the amounts allowed to each and all other items of expense.

(ii)    The requirements of subparagraph (i) of this paragraph are instead of all expenses, fees and costs now or previously allowed the Sheriff for expense in carrying out the duties of the office, including the expenses of transferring prisoners to and from penal institutions and places of confinement in the State under the sentence or order of any authority.

(2)    The County Council may not pay the Sheriff additional compensation for any services rendered in discharging official duties.

(3)    The County Council is not liable for any other fee or compensation to the Sheriff.

(f)    The County Council shall levy each year sufficient funds to pay the salaries and expenses of the Sheriff’s Office.

(g)    (1)    All deputies, except the chief deputy, clerical assistants, and other employees employed by the Sheriff’s Office are subject to the “personnel provisions” of the charter of Wicomico County and subsequent rules and regulations passed by the County Council.

(2)    If a chief deputy who was a deputy subject to the personnel provisions prior to being promoted to chief deputy is removed from the office of chief deputy for other than cause, that person shall revert to a deputy with the same status that the person had prior to the person’s appointment as chief deputy.

(3)    A chief deputy who was not a deputy subject to the personnel provisions prior to appointment as chief deputy, if removed from office for any reason, may not automatically revert to a deputy.