Garfield County sheriff seeks $1.9 million to raise deputy pay, citing vacancies and overtime

Sheriff Lou (Garfield County Sheriff) and an outside consultant presented a classification and compensation proposal to the Garfield County Board of County Commissioners on April 8, asking the board to approve a $1.9 million budget increase — with a higher option of $2.135 million — to raise pay for sworn and administrative staff and to backdate any approved adjustments to Jan. 1.

The proposal, prepared by Precision Employment and presented by Elaine Alberting of Precision Employment, recommended moving the sheriff's office toward a market median compa‑ratio to improve recruitment and retention. The study's authors and sheriff's staff told commissioners the office has persistent vacancies, high overtime costs and pay compression that together make it difficult to retain experienced officers and fill openings.

Garfield County sheriff's office officials said the department currently lists 16 vacancies, of which 6 are frozen, leaving roughly 10 active open positions; the office reported roughly $900,000 in overtime spending in 2024. The sheriff's office and consultant presented two budget scenarios: a baseline $1.9 million package intended to bring the office to the county's previously established midpoint and a larger $2.135 million “pretty please” request that would align the sheriff's office with the county's current midpoint if the board chose a faster catch‑up path.

"When my employees are making 2 to $4 less for the same job, I find myself in a position where not only am I struggling to fight other law enforcement agencies to retain deputies, but now I'm having to compete within Garfield County to keep our administrative staff," Sheriff Lou said while describing the internal equity and…