Sheriff’s office projects year-end budget balance despite elevated overtime; staffing gains expected

Sheriff’s Office leaders updated the Spokane County commissioners on July 21 about staffing, overtime drivers and a midyear forecast that shows the department projecting it will finish the year roughly $1.1 million under its adopted budget after revenue offsets and internal transfers.

Why it matters: The sheriff’s department operates services both for the county’s unincorporated areas and as a contractor for multiple municipalities. Commissioners and department leaders discussed how vacancies, training classes and a high number of patrol staff on leave are driving overtime costs now; leaders said recent hiring and scheduled academy graduations will reduce overtime pressure later in the year.

Staffing and overtime: County staff showed a snapshot that the department currently has roughly 8 commissioned vacancies (a figure that was changing as offers were accepted) and that about 18 employees were on family/medical leave while roughly 30 were in training. Department leaders said the hiring pipeline has accelerated and that final job offers were out for remaining openings; officers were being commissioned in the coming weeks and additional academy graduations are expected in the fall.

The department told commissioners it had recorded approximately $3,000,000 in overtime year-to-date; that overtime appears in salary and wages lines and is driving a projected salary overspend if not offset. Department staff explained that extraordinary overtime events this year included deployments assisting other counties (Chelan and Kootenai were mentioned) and a larger-than-normal number of employees in training and on leave.

Revenue and cost allocation: County staff explained how the Law Enforcement Cost Allocation Plan (LECAP, referred to in the meeting as the “lead cap”) distributes law-enforcement costs among jurisdictions using metrics such as calls for service and population. The sheriff’s office shows a budgeted “lead cap” total near $34.7 million; the department explained that some jurisdictions pay monthly while others are reconciled later in settlement adjustments.

A key offset this year came from billing for City of Spokane Valley positions: the department had budgeted to carry salary costs for positions serving contract partners and to recover revenue from those jurisdictions. Staff said loading those jurisdictional revenues into the budget—most notably the Spokane Valley contract for 10 positions—improved the year-end outlook and helped move the forecast into surplus.

Capital and one-time items: Leaders briefed commissioners on capital spending already committed and on the method used to treat one-time purchases in the forecast (for example, vehicle or equipment purchases that were already made were not annualized). The department noted a number of capital items—including patrol vehicles, shoot-house work and a range of deferred purchases—have been funded within the rolling budget but do not increase the adopted budget total until formally approved.

Outlook and next steps: The sheriff’s office forecasted that overtime pressures should ease beginning in September–November as trainees commission and return to full duty. Commissioners asked for more detail on trends in benefits underspend that helped produce the projected savings; budget staff said benefits are loaded using a blended-rate assumption for vacant positions and that actual enrollment patterns can produce savings.

Ending: The department said it will continue to monitor overtime and vacancy trends and work with the budget office on any BCRs (budget change requests) needed later in the year.