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Sheriff outlines staffing, grants and overtime changes amid effort to limit comp-time liabilities
Summary
Essex County Sheriff reported staffing levels, vacancies, grant revenues and a policy shift intended to limit accumulated compensatory time; commissioners pressed on overtime budgeting and forfeiture fund uses.
Essex County’s newly sworn sheriff briefed county commissioners on the sheriff’s office 2025 budget, reporting personnel totals, grant revenue and a policy change intended to curb long-term compensatory time liabilities.
"Our positions total positions we have, 469. That's 398 in law enforcement, 71 civilian," the sheriff said, listing current vacancies (14 officers, four clerks and four security guards as of January) and plans to recruit throughout the year.
The sheriff described grant receipts in 2024 (including body armor, body-worn cameras, homeland security and a COPS hiring grant) and forecasted 2025 revenue of about $3.15 million while noting pending legislation could affect revenue tied to sales of foreclosed homes. He reported roughly $233,000 in current forfeiture funds and said that money is used for vehicles, equipment and training.
Commissioners questioned a large overtime line. The sheriff explained officers can receive "weekend time" — compensatory time in lieu of pay — which can accumulate. To reduce an unfunded payout risk later in careers, the sheriff said his office started a policy January 1 to pay out or limit accumulation and to reevaluate the method of payment every three months. "In the times they can accumulate up to 50 days," he said of accumulated weekend time.
Commissioners also pressed on how retroactive contract settlements were handled; the county treasurer said reserves covered prior retro payments and that the county had adequate reserves for expected payouts.
Ending: Commissioners thanked the sheriff and his team and the presentation closed without immediate decisions; several commissioners urged continued monitoring of overtime and comp-time exposure.
