Sheriff budget discussion: deputies hiring, courthouse deputy line move, and SRO grant limits debated

The sheriff’s budget and staffing plan received extensive discussion at the work session, with commissioners and staff addressing multiple items including two requested deputies, classification of a courthouse deputy line, and how state grants for School Resource Officers (SROs) may be used. County staff said the sheriff currently has budget authority for 11 deputies and that the base budget (referred to in discussion as $604,000 or the deputies line) is sufficient for 11 positions. The sheriff’s office has requested two additional deputies; staff said the commission historically has funded shortfalls if a department runs out of money. “If the sheriff gets 11 deputies between now and next June and he comes back and runs out of money, y’all will give him the money,” a county staff member told the meeting. Commissioners discussed moving the courthouse deputy line item (account codes referenced) back to the jail budget so that the position’s classification and training (three weeks of training referred to as TCI or corrections training) would align with jail certification requirements. The sheriff’s office asked specifically for a deputy in the courthouse Monday through Friday to provide security given cash and public traffic in the building. Staff said the deputy would also transport inmates and manage case-related duties, not purely “security.” On SROs and grant funds, staff and commissioners repeatedly said that state SRO grant money is regulated and cannot be repurposed for retention bonuses unless the state grant permits it. The meeting referred to a roughly $30,000 reimbursement or retention grant that had been present in a prior budget but not currently reflected in the sheriff’s line items; staff said the $30,000 needed to be identified and placed in the correct line item. “That is the 30,000 re reimbursable retention grant,” a staff member said. No formal vote was taken at the work session on deputy hires or transfers. Commissioners asked staff to place motions or transfers on the next regular meeting agenda and suggested scheduling a law enforcement meeting within 30 to 60 days to discuss staffing and budget details. Next steps: staff to identify the $30,000 retention grant line, move the courthouse deputy line back to the jail budget if appropriate, and place formal motions on the next meeting agenda for approval.