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Sheriff, corrections raise staffing, overtime and equipment concerns as county trims budget
Summary
During the budget workshop Colfax County’s sheriff and corrections officials described unresolved capital needs and substantial overtime pressures while the jail and corrections faced multiple vacancies. Commissioners heard that vehicle and equipment capital requests and recruitment grants may partially offset costs.
Sheriff’s and corrections officials told Colfax County commissioners on May 27 that staffing shortages, overtime and equipment needs make the public‑safety budget one of the most constrained parts of the county’s preliminary FY‑26 forecast.
The sheriff reported capital requests for vehicles and equipment, and asked staff to include those amounts in the interim budget. “We were ordered 240,000 this year year and another 60 to replace, body armor and firearms,” the sheriff said when asked about capital outlay; Justin Menard said those items would be budgeted as net‑zero entries once the appropriation paperwork is supplied.
Corrections (BMDC) staffing and overtime
Warden/Corrections leadership told the commission the BMDC (detention) unit has roughly 33 positions with eight or nine currently vacant and that cutting staff would increase overtime and training burdens. The warden said about $26,000–$30,000 is typical annual overtime that is essentially automatic because of holidays and required staffing and training obligations. The warden added that some overtime is unavoidable because state training requirements and holiday pay drive a base level of overtime.
Recruitment and grant offsets
Commissioners and staff discussed several off‑budget revenue lines and grants that could offset salaries in part. The “corrections recruitment” grant was described as paying 75% of new officers’ salaries for two combined years (FY‑2 and FY‑3 combined in the current calculation). Staff said the county had received a $300,000 infusion in the current year and that the ongoing grant amount should be reconciled and included as revenue where eligible.
Opioid funds and nurse position
The commissioners discussed whether some salary costs (for example the nurse position) could be charged to opioid‑related funds. Commissioner Kern suggested moving an RN salary to the opioid fund as a one‑year relief; staff said the opioid/wildfire suppression and other restricted funds must be checked to ensure eligibility before transfers are executed.
Why it matters: public‑safety staffing and equipment are central to day‑to‑day county services and to compliance with court, training and detainment obligations. Reductions in these areas carry high operational risk.
Quotes and concerns
- Sheriff: “We were ordered 240,000 this year … and another 60 to replace, body armor and firearms.” - BMDC Warden: “The majority of that overtime … it's usually around 26 to 30,000 a year.”
Ending
Commissioners emphasized protecting basic public safety and expressed reluctance to cut front‑line positions. They agreed to remove two vacant detention positions to reduce the shortfall but warned that further cuts could lead to layoffs or additional overtime pressure. Staff was directed to incorporate the recruitment grant numbers and any eligible grant offsets into the next interim budget draft and to return with reconciled figures.
