County sheriff's office staff presented detailed budget lines for fiscal year 2026, highlighting vehicle replacement and upfit costs, detention center staffing and medical expenses, and staffing pressures that have constrained scheduling.

Staff said two recent used truck purchases totaled about $69,000 and two new interceptors were invoiced at roughly $45,700 each; upfitting one vehicle costs about $21,000. The department asked that an existing capital request for vehicle replacement ($326,000 as previously requested) be retained to allow purchase of additional vehicles and to cover upfitting and related equipment. Commissioners discussed a “slush” or preplanning amount that permits opportunistic purchases of used vehicles and agreed to retain a similar capital request level.

On emergency staffing, the sheriff's office described recruitment progress but warned of retirements and resignations that had interrupted a trial move to 10-hour shifts; staff said restoring 10-hour shifts would require one to four deputies, with one deputy already a high priority to improve morale and reduce overtime. The board discussed using part-time/reserve certified officers, recent legislation that may permit paying reserves, and tradeoffs between overtime and hiring costs.

Detention-related costs were discussed in depth. Staff said detention medical and medication costs have been running higher in recent years (estimates cited around $16,000 historically but higher in recent years) and planned transports, academy training, food and cleaning contracts were included. The jail diversion program was reported to be drawing down fund balances and commissioners and staff discussed setting a sustainable fee schedule and potentially raising fees that have not been increased in years.

911 and OEM (Office of Emergency Management) capital items were reviewed. Staff noted certain tower and license purchases and portable radio/repeater maintenance should be capitalized rather than placed in operating budgets; commissioners asked staff to move those line items into capital where appropriate. The newly purchased radar speed trailer was presented as a data tool useful to deputies and road maintenance; staff said sharing of its data with road crews and commissioners should be continued.

Commissioners emphasized long-term revenue constraints — including property tax, inmate reimbursements and PILT — and urged staff to prepare revenue options (fee increases, levies or state legislative fixes) to sustain staffing and capital needs. No formal action beyond the earlier vehicle motion (separate agenda item) was taken on these broad budget discussions; staff were directed to return with adjusted budget worksheets and specific line-item corrections.