County budgets additional sheriff positions, flags detention center transfer and grant timing
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Summary
Taos County’s interim budget includes funding requests for five new sheriff’s positions and increases to overtime and detention center support; commissioners and sheriff discussed vacancies, cadet training, grant funding and recruitment.
Taos County’s interim budget presentation on May 27 included proposals to add personnel in the sheriff’s office and to budget transfers to the detention center, drawing extended discussion about vacancies, overtime and grant funding.
County staff reported a substantial rise in law-enforcement insurance premiums and proposed five new positions for the sheriff’s office. County presenters and commissioners said the budget also includes a 3% cost-of-living adjustment and an anticipated increase in worker’s compensation because of more positions. Gina (HR) and county finance noted differences between vacancies reported by HR and the sheriff’s office during discussion.
The sheriff told commissioners the department is recovering from “an exodus” and that hiring certified lateral officers shortens the time before a deputy can fully operate in the field; cadets must attend the state academy and then gain certification. The sheriff described use of grant funds for recruitment and training — the detention center and sheriff received one-time grants (for recruitment and other uses) that reduce the need for transfers in the short term but may expire. County staff said the adult detention center requires a $3,000,015 transfer to supplement fund shortfalls; that number was presented as part of the interim budget projections.
Commissioners asked about overtime levels, how additional recruits will reduce overtime, and whether temporary or laterals are feasible. The sheriff and HR discussed that uncertified cadets start at a lower wage and that certification raises pay. Commissioners also discussed the contractual use of outside law-enforcement support for holidays and the way DWI- and federal/state-funded overtime operations are accounted for separately from the sheriff’s general overtime budget.
No formal amendment to staffing levels was recorded during the meeting; commissioners approved the interim budget as presented and directed staff to reconcile salary projections and grant timing before final adoption.
