Sheriff’s office, commissioners consider shifting millions in corrections costs to special public‑safety fund

Chief Deputy Sean (acting chief deputy, Elkhart County Sheriff’s Office) told commissioners that the sheriff’s office could shift substantial corrections personnel and operational costs into the county’s special public‑safety local income‑tax fund (SP 11/14) to relieve the general fund.

Sean said, based on preliminary figures, moving corrections officer payroll (corrections officers and attached supervisory personnel) and related supervision could shift roughly $5.2 million; combined with moving about $1.3 million currently budgeted for the jail food vendor out of the general fund, the office could free roughly $6 million from the general fund budget in the short term. “So right off the bat, you could do that,” he told the board.

Why it matters: SP 11/14 historically pays for a mix of jail operations, bond payments and other public‑safety uses. Commissioners noted state changes to how special levies are treated may require further review before designating continued operational costs to that fund. County leaders said bond reserves and current SP revenues provide headroom now, but long‑term treatment depends on future state rules and the life of current bonds.

Budget mechanics and next steps: County Administrator Jeff Taylor and financial staff recommended leaving a modest cushion in any fund transfer and reviewing timing so payroll and vendor payments are covered across the current fiscal year and until the next appropriation. Patty (county fiscal staff) and others said the move should be staged to avoid mid‑year shortfalls.

Ending: Commissioners agreed to pursue a plan that would move core corrections personnel costs and portions of other corrections operating lines into the SP 11/14 fund while preserving a small general‑fund cushion; staff were asked to prepare the required budget transfers and to model longer‑term impacts to the SP fund if state rules change.