Sheriff wins commission approval to dissolve a deputy post and reallocate pay increases; office reports staffing and operational metrics

The Colfax County Commission approved the sheriff's proposal to dissolve one deputy position and reallocate funding to give across-the-board raises to remaining sworn staff, a measure the sheriff said would conserve approximately $61,000 while increasing hourly pay for ranks from lieutenant through executive secretary.

Sheriff Baca (referred to in the packet) presented the proposal and said the increase would be $2.17 per hour for ranks below the sheriff and undersheriff; he told the commission the county had 14 sworn deputies at the time of the report and had lost two since the start of the year. The sheriff said the pay change is intended to help retention amid competitive state salaries.

Commissioners voted to approve dissolving the position and implementing the raises. The sheriff asked that raises begin as soon as payroll allows; he said he preferred the first pay period in March if feasible.

In a quarterly operations briefing, the sheriff reported 1,145 hours of overtime for the quarter (with court security and transports a major driver), 25 transports in the month analyzed with roughly 24,171 miles driven, and staffing and training updates including active shooter and firearms training and progress on radio communications (FCC licensing for a Sierra Grande site) and generator projects for remote sites. He also summarized arrests, citations and animal complaints for 2024 and described ongoing efforts to reduce overtime by scheduling and virtual hearings.

The commission requested the sheriff provide a payroll-by-individual breakdown for the raises when implemented and asked for continued updates on staffing and radio MOU progress.