County finance panel trims sheriff budget, debates 10% pay request and possible tax increase

At a May 21 Budget and Finance Committee meeting, commissioners approved amended line-item changes to the sheriffs Office budget while debating a sheriff-requested 10% across-the-board pay increase that committee members said would cost about $293,979.

The issue matters because commissioners must balance the countys budget and decide whether to raise property taxes to cover recurring costs for salaries. Committee members said one-time items such as vehicle purchases have been trimmed but that recurring salary increases would require new, ongoing revenue or offsets.

The committee moved multiple sheriffs Office items as amended. Courtroom-security staffing and related overtime were adjusted downward by $25,852 after discussion of part-time-staff hour limits. Patrol staffing was amended to reflect vacancies (three open officer slots were discussed) and a $50,005.59 reduction tied to a recently departed officer. The committee also reduced some equipment lines (law-enforcement supplies and taser/equipment budgets) and moved several other line items to lower amounts after members raised questions about historical spending and grant reimbursements.

Sheriff (name not provided) told the committee the department is short-staffed and that part-time courtroom guards are limited to about 20 hours per week under post regulations, which increases pressure on full-time staff and overtime pools. "I've got all these positions full right now," the sheriff said in reporting current staffing in some units, and later…