Sheriff presents $15.6 million FY26 budget, requests deputies and detention nursing amid staffing and airport coverage concerns

Sheriff Brian Hino told the Flathead County Commission on Wednesday the sheriff’s office is proposing a roughly $15.6 million operating budget for fiscal 2026 and asked commissioners to consider new positions and equipment to address rising call volume, detention needs and specialized capabilities.

The sheriff said the proposed budget—about $300,000 higher than last year’s revenue—includes requests for additional sworn positions, a third full‑time nurse for the county jail, continued vehicle purchases and investments in drones, canine teams and radio programming. He also raised a separate staffing question about security at the county airport that he said may require a multi‑person, paid law‑enforcement presence to meet federal screening requirements.

Why it matters: The sheriff argued the additions are tied to population growth, more complex investigations and rising detention and medical costs. Commissioners must weigh new personnel and equipment requests against uncertain state funding changes and competing county priorities.

Hino said the office’s 2026 budgeted revenue is about $15,600,000, compared with roughly $15,300,000 in actual receipts last year. “Staffing is about…