[{"_1":2,"_110":-5,"_111":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74,86,98],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":56,"_68":69,"_70":56,"_71":72,"_73":72},"mediaId",6264741,"mediaKeyId","3095872-68d0a9b6d5658b1ffceef1fb36ff4326","parentId",3095872,"title","Sheriff’s office reports rising jail population, more violent cases and mental‑health pressure in Q3 update","audioSeconds",753,"startMs",6327000,"endMs",7080000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3095872-68d0a9b6d5658b1ffceef1fb36ff4326&start=6327&end=7080","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3095872-68d0a9b6d5658b1ffceef1fb36ff4326/thumbnail_6327000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6264741/Washoe-County/Nevada/Sheriffs-office-reports-rising-jail-population-more-violent-cases-and-mentalhealth-pressure-in-Q3-update","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6264741-7f78098cc074f2f0218b0a682756bc8a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771213549&Signature=i7OpEP9Pvgp8bQgZhpDYS0b6EMELd2usILzZ~fviH3KCFushfLcP3vlqt4~YmYCkJclKh3FPMscEICGlYIwp7t3Rveiskmg3v1nEUVmI7c8~e6hsrhI6nD3Ilogw0~yFto2S3ZkoqwzGR8QG1t367DVSbccX975MN1KZ8RSQ3r26v8djfG-rza5VI7bRIJrN5q67sYuOpY~pmYcgh1HAgBqfA9ZccX~OudzndaA87cxZQWdHJuKDbRXF0bbGoHPAz-gzh7CHb1UmMDUg38qThOnxFxZew11YWfcWgrfCgDzuK2UZxYvJpItcODcoeTUrzQBMyM4qf5jfl5IZcxvN7Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Washoe County, Nevada","date","2025-04-23T16:31:58.207Z","article","The Washoe County Sheriff’s Office presented its FY25 third‑quarter status report Tuesday, detailing jail population trends, security metrics and program activity at the Washoe County Regional Detention Facility.

The report matters to residents because the county’s jail population affects public safety, jail operating costs and programs designed to reduce recidivism and support reentry.

Captain Andy Venn summarized the packet of data and noted the facility had about 14,000 bookings in the year and an average daily population of roughly 1,160 inmates. The sheriff’s office reported a modest decline in total bookings from the previous year but a rise in the proportion of maximum‑custody inmates and length of stay, which the captain attributed in part to post‑2020 legal changes and the increase in serious cases. The facility recorded one completed suicide in December 2023 and credited deputies with 806 hands‑on averted suicide interventions last year.

Other trends included a rise in verified gang members (298, about 26% of the population) and an increased share of inmates held on child‑exploitation charges; protective‑custody cases (many tied to child‑related offenses) rose from about 2% in earlier years to 6% in 2024. The jail’s mental‑health population also grew and has displaced some bed capacity, complicating housing and program delivery. Captain Venn said the Sheriff’s Office expanded in‑custody services — including a MAT (medication‑assisted treatment) grant, detention response team transports and an inmate assistance program that saves the county money by avoiding beds or hospital stays — and cited programmatic reductions in recidivism tied to jail‑based mental‑health services.

Commissioners praised the work and asked follow‑up questions; several said they were encouraged by in‑custody education and reentry programs observed during recent visits. Captain Venn noted collecting and maintaining the level of data shown is resource intensive and credited staff who compile it.

No board action was taken at the briefing. The sheriff’s office will continue quarterly reporting and share requested follow‑up data points with the commissioners.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Board of County Commissioners | April 22, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Washoe County Sheriff’s Office presented a detailed FY25 third‑quarter report on the regional detention facility showing increased average daily population, longer stays, more maximum‑security inmates and rising verified gang presence; detention leaders pointed to mental‑health trends, suicides prevented and savings from federal contracts.","taxTitle","taxId",2669,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":56,"_68":69,"_70":56,"_71":72,"_73":72},6264746,"Truckee Meadows fire chiefs present progress on regional dispatch, SB319 study and planned RFP",610,5090000,5700000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3095872-68d0a9b6d5658b1ffceef1fb36ff4326&start=5090&end=5700","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3095872-68d0a9b6d5658b1ffceef1fb36ff4326/thumbnail_5090000.jpg","/articles/6264746/Washoe-County/Nevada/Truckee-Meadows-fire-chiefs-present-progress-on-regional-dispatch-SB319-study-and-planned-RFP","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6264746-569389a1ef706686f4038f98b005279e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771213549&Signature=E~erqTs-QMPhfIIm4SNTsOyzKYcoP2FYOmVVyueYvoFtirllho~OUKFcg5SiuGY-MXqMUrGqXDmD6ryCp1d6e5gVnmVuO0KKDL0Y0nxlpenlQmC2Dy1j2OZBsuUo6POo4-Be14oe3wHhd-P3ZCJLFC07pMPbP-L5MRgvRPmCzav8sxF77L8mvQ80wcnwGu12w91xfSqEULgA6B~v2iop0dZQCnfWFeDfN7SKD6ESrAWlgfGuJgSp0o79W3jLiAY0CM1OZUUTW0SW49ux1gwD2vz31yI7jO1kRWFRxSikr0XR4W-SRyveUfkgJKnsS44oTvCKmGYnx6vt7X6NpGW-YQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Fire leaders from the Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District, Reno Fire Department and Sparks Fire Department briefed the Washoe County Board Tuesday on steps toward operational regionalization, a shared dispatch platform and a planned third‑party study requested by legislators and the jurisdictions.

The update matters because regionalizing dispatch and implementing unrestricted automatic aid could reduce response times and streamline regional emergency operations; it also has budget and labor implications for multiple jurisdictions.

Dale Way, interim fire chief and CEO of the Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District, said the chiefs and managers have met weekly since a February joint meeting to define scope and milestones for regionalization, focusing on closest‑unit dispatch across borders and shared standard operating guidelines. The officials described a near‑term technical milestone: a regional upgrade to the Hexagon CAD system, with an anticipated go‑live between September and October. They said a coordinated RFP for a third‑party study and business plan is being drafted; the working group intends to include labor groups in those discussions.

Senate Bill 319 — originally broader — was amended to focus on a study; Way said the amendment narrowed the bill to the study the jurisdictions already sought. The chiefs said they would pursue the study and business plan even if the legislature did not pass SB319. Reno Fire Chief David Cochran and Sparks Fire Chief Walt White said shared training, regional SOGs and decision‑making were priorities.

Board members pressed for a timeline and for assurances the RFP would be available for each jurisdiction to review. Commissioners expressed support for a third‑party study before deeper consolidation and for steps that produce operational improvements without immediately changing tax or funding structures.

Next steps: the regional working group will finalize the RFP, engage labor representatives, and report back to each jurisdiction’s governing bodies as the study proceeds.","Officials from Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District, Reno Fire and Sparks Fire updated commissioners on work toward unified dispatch, unrestricted automatic aid and a third‑party study (SB319 amendment narrowed to a study). Agencies plan an RFP and operational alignment ahead of possible legislative changes.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":56,"_68":69,"_70":56,"_71":72,"_73":72},6264751,"Washoe County finance outlines vacancy-savings option and contingency risks as budget deadline nears",1005,8355000,9360000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3095872-68d0a9b6d5658b1ffceef1fb36ff4326&start=8355&end=9360","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3095872-68d0a9b6d5658b1ffceef1fb36ff4326/thumbnail_8355000.jpg","/articles/6264751/Washoe-County/Nevada/Washoe-County-finance-outlines-vacancy-savings-option-and-contingency-risks-as-budget-deadline-nears","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6264751-03e87ff4001d419db5fbb1620c41eb11/orig.mp4?Expires=1771213549&Signature=BXKXlL6qgxDpNLKrxRy5IOnXgkpK4M~XxE4rk49KTwdH~9hCFBlwepZ7HBzBKAPH~HBINQ8S2uu-Spm~e-rjJNHkv28MhFQjJplo4AJjtjrt7a1QKvEzPmQ3EJfd9D~cD6hd2n9Ib5bvtKk-zgqnbo90v6D7OTCHMtV4zN~ARLf8rS8TjTdMaNaAjAnS6vZgwlyeSTYg9n7f1MuaiF~89jGRaxc9A4S8j-fza7h3IJrskh4YifscgsQEmqC9ltzkoqCv4Fgz4rws18FBtAAocUZpIVnTuCJDkUIZ7mDbprJhi437mwHvwPDmCavtwfX-6KCHrKGeCyDCAbCB5MoI0A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Washoe County finance staff on Tuesday presented options to narrow a projected budget shortfall for fiscal year 2026 and the ensuing five‑year forecast, placing particular emphasis on two personnel strategies: a formal hiring freeze and a vacancy‑savings model based on historical turnover.

The issue matters because personnel costs make up the majority of the county’s general fund expenditures; how the board chooses to treat vacant positions will affect the FY26 ending fund balance and multi‑year projections.

Chief Financial Officer Abby Yacoban told commissioners that a strict hiring freeze would be an administratively enforced austerity measure that requires centralized review and yields long‑term savings, but also creates operational strain and needs a formal appeals process. As an alternative she proposed codifying normal attrition into the budget as a 3% vacancy‑savings assumption (up from Washoe County’s prior ~1.5%), a common practice in large public employers that smooths hiring timing and recognizes that positions are often vacant for weeks or months between incumbents.

Yacoban warned that the vacancy‑savings approach tightens the county’s forecast: it creates less margin for unanticipated mid‑year costs and reduces flexibility to augment budgets later without additional fund balance. She also reviewed contingency rules under Nevada law (NRS chapter on contingency) and noted that Washoe budgeted a 3% contingency in FY25; for FY26 staff proposed a lower illustrative contingency of about 1.5% (roughly $6.8 million) but said the board needed to set its tolerance for risk.

Commissioners asked for details and time to consult with department heads and elected county officers who manage significant portions of the budget. Several commissioners said they wanted more transparent, earlier briefings with department heads before the board finalizes FY26 decisions. Commissioner Garcia urged that the library transfer be approved to avoid service cuts while the board and trustees rework operations; others pressed for trustee-led budget review before finalizing the county transfer.

On related items, staff noted about $1.2 million in salaries currently funded with ARPA interest and recommended reviewing whether those positions should be moved into the general fund or handled differently. CFO Yacoban said the roads fund requires separate attention: restoring the county pavement condition index to policy targets would require roughly $11–$15 million annually in the near term, far more than the small adjustments under consideration for FY26.

Next steps: finance will continue weekly briefings; staff will meet with trustees and department heads; commissioners scheduled further budget discussions on May 8 and May 13 ahead of the May 20 public hearing and final budget adoption. Yacoban asked the board for direction on contingency levels and whether to move forward with vacancy‑savings as a budgeting approach.","CFO Abby Yacoban presented budget options to close a multi‑year funding gap: a hiring-freeze austerity approach or a vacancy‑savings model tied to historical attrition. Commissioners discussed contingency levels, ARPA-funded positions, and next steps ahead of the May 20 budget adoption.",{"_33":99,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":100,"_41":101,"_43":102,"_45":103,"_47":104,"_49":105,"_51":106,"_53":107,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":108,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":109,"_67":56,"_68":69,"_70":56,"_71":72,"_73":72},6264756,"Washoe County Commission hears weeks-long debate over $1.3 million library transfer",12941,799000,13740000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3095872-68d0a9b6d5658b1ffceef1fb36ff4326&start=799&end=13740","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3095872-68d0a9b6d5658b1ffceef1fb36ff4326/thumbnail_799000.jpg","/articles/6264756/Washoe-County/Nevada/Washoe-County-Commission-hears-weeks-long-debate-over-13-million-library-transfer","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6264756-8fb32782b3ead5877f2503a2d2dba3cd/orig.mp4?Expires=1771213549&Signature=lbneaxi~iIqxS2qx1ydNr3bkXfCQ5gewe8dAogwXsJ~ISt8MbrsrdaT~O5Tr9hk2ARIWXUvNeYl4d~~Vfqo14tbcmspXnNu8Z-ZXIDXudyky17ssvAtLBB75NwD2dpbMxoRmLHQgEn4N7sjvgXnt04drqIl1BGnmDQ1k5hgdb3VKfbVcDa7Z0ILltSh13S2Fy1aWMZFkqUF3TyyFXae-zTLBkWu4gsim5V2ic~pCA3KDVTm9acEAU-PrVMLxYu2ZW8twWRcdMKkgNnfaceMY8XVO-w~wcjqwjxPTQieOwK73pUiermUb3gW9e~HSWDJ3pPJRnlXNaEBoWSThvnufhQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A prolonged public comment period and board discussion Tuesday focused on a proposed $1,300,000 transfer from the county general fund to the Washoe County Library system ahead of the May 20 budget hearing.

The debate matters because the transfer would use county general fund dollars to maintain library operations after voters rejected a library bond, while trustees and interim library management ask for time and resources to review operations and staffing.

Members of the public urged the commissioners to approve the transfer, arguing libraries provide essential services. Nancy Carlson, a Reno resident, said the transfer request included money from the library expansion fund that “is intended to maintain and upgrade library buildings and should not be used elsewhere.” Trustee Marie Rodriguez told the commission the library board had reviewed the budget repeatedly and that trustees had the information they needed to assess finances. Acting library director Stacy McKenzie said she will work with trustees and staff to provide the board the details it requests and pledged to “help to balance some of the issues” during her interim tenure.

County finance staff described the $1.3 million as a conservative estimate and said the library expansion fund still has funds for capital projects; Chief Financial Officer Abby Yacoban told commissioners the transfer was intended as a short-term step to cover operating needs while trustees and staff craft a longer-term operational plan. Debbie Stiers, Washoe County Library collection development manager, told the board the requested purchases and spend patterns were routine and that the county’s new purchasing thresholds now require formal BCC approval for single-vendor purchases over $300,000.

Commission comment split along lines of process and principle. Commissioner Garcia and others urged support for the transfer to avoid cutting services now and to allow trustees time to work with county staff. Commissioner Andreola said she supported a trustee-led review before any permanent changes and asked for a formal process for the board and library trustees to finalize the library’s operational plan. Vice Chair Jean Herman and some members of the public questioned whether the expansion fund — intended for capital for decades — should be used now for operations and urged a more detailed review.

The board did not vote Tuesday on the $1.3 million transfer. Staff said they will continue talks with the library board and management and will bring follow-up material to upcoming budget briefings on May 8 and the regular May 13 meeting ahead of the May 20 public hearing and final budget adoption.

The discussion also fed into a separate consent-block vote on related library items (consent items 8, 9 and 10), which the board approved en bloc 4–1 (Vice Chair Jean Herman voted no). That vote covered specific purchasing approvals on the consent calendar; it did not authorize the $1.3 million transfer requested in the operating budget conversation.

What happens next: county staff will continue working with the library board and acting director Stacy McKenzie to produce a recommended operational plan and budget scenarios; commissioners said they expect updated materials at regular budget briefings prior to the May 20 budget hearing.","Commissioners received extended public comment and trustee briefings over a proposed $1.3 million transfer from the general fund to the Washoe County Library system. The board discussed options including budget transfers, vacancy-savings and a pause to let the library board review operations before final action at the May budget hearing.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Sheriff’s office reports rising jail population, more violent cases and mental‑health pressure in Q3 update

Truckee Meadows fire chiefs present progress on regional dispatch, SB319 study and planned RFP

Washoe County finance outlines vacancy-savings option and contingency risks as budget deadline nears

Washoe County Commission hears weeks-long debate over $1.3 million library transfer