1. 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 men, aides, stenographers or reporters, technicians, undersheriffs, jailers, matrons, handwriting and fingerprint experts, probation officers, and/or 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; provided, that no such employments shall exceed the amount of lawful funds appropriated for such purpose.
2. 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 or assistant who shall be chargeable with all the duties of such principal officer, while subject to the direction of the same; and such first or chief deputy 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 or assistant shall be bonded in the same manner and in the same sum as required for the principal officer.
3. C. The first or chief deputy or assistant to any officer, as authorized by subsection B of this section, shall receive a salary not to exceed ninety percent (90%) of the salary of the principal officer; and, if the principal officer has more than one deputy or assistant, that person or those persons whom the principal officer may designate as "second deputy" or "second assistant" shall receive a salary not to exceed eighty percent (80%) of the salary of the principal officer; and the aforesaid salaries within said 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 his signature and filed with the county clerk. The numerical rank of any deputy or assistant shall be within the sole discretion of the principal officer.
4. D. No other deputy, aide, assistant or other person named in subsection A of this section may be paid at a salary rate in excess of eighty percent (80%) of the salary of the principal officer; and, subject to said limitation, the salary or rate of pay of such subordinate shall be determined by the principal officer and the county excise board based upon responsibility, risks, skills, training, and experience required for such position and afforded by the subordinate; provided that the eighty percent (80%) limitation shall not apply to county officers employing only two deputies or technical help on a part-time contract or wage basis within the amount of lawful appropriations for said purposes, by and with the consent and approval of the county commissioners. Provided further, the criteria stated in this subsection shall not apply to reserve force deputy sheriffs.
5. E. The salary paid to such deputies, assistants, or other persons shall not exceed ninety percent (90%) or eighty percent (80%), respectively, of the total salary paid to such principal officers.
6. F. 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 act; however, the approval of said 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 said funding so provided.
7. G. 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 said budget planning conferences.
8. H. In any county with a population in excess of three hundred fifty thousand (350,000), the safety director or coordinator appointed pursuant to Section 403 of Title 40 of the Oklahoma Statutes shall be exempt from the salary provisions of Sections 180.58 et seq. of this title.

Laws 1959, SB 22, p. 98, § 8; Amended by Laws 1961, SB 270, p. 214, § 1, emerg. eff. June 29, 1961; Amended by Laws 1961, HB 679, p. 215, § 1, emerg. eff. July 31, 1961; Amended by Laws 1976, SB 753, c. 292, § 2, emerg. eff. June 17, 1976; Amended by Laws 1977, HB 1048, c. 7, § 1, emerg. eff. February 25, 1977; Amended by Laws 1979, SB 148, c. 26, § 1, emerg. eff. April 3, 1979; Amended by Laws 1981, SB 14, c. 72, § 3, eff. October 1, 1981; Amended by Laws 1993, HB 1744, c. 239, § 11, emerg. eff. July 1, 1993; Amended by Laws 1997, SB 673, c. 283, § 2, emerg. eff. May 27, 1997 (superseded document available).