Commissioners approve budget amendments to cover sheriff’s office shortfall and capital project ordinances

Union County commissioners voted May 19 to approve capital project ordinances and a budget amendment intended to address funding shortfalls in the sheriff’s office budget that county staff said reflect rising payouts, incentive payments and overtime costs.

County Manager Brian Matthews and finance staff told the board the sheriff’s budget faced an unanticipated deficit driven by larger than expected payouts to separating employees, previously unbudgeted employee incentive payments and higher realized holiday and overtime costs. Manager Matthews said the county will include those previously unbudgeted items in next fiscal year’s baseline sheriff’s budget so they can be tracked and planned.

The board ratified a prior $150,000 allocation and approved an additional capital/budget amendment for a total supplemental action of $786,267, according to the staff presentation. The motion to approve capital project ordinances (3‑47‑D and 3‑67‑C) and budget amendment number 34 passed on voice vote; the transcript records the board saying “aye” in favor. The county manager and finance director said the transfers will come from existing capital repair/renovation pools assigned to the sheriff’s facility and related buckets; staff said they would provide the board with more detail on remaining balances.

Several commissioners used the discussion to underscore concerns about employee retention and the county’s competitiveness for law enforcement pay. Commissioners urged staff to incorporate retention strategies and accurate overtime and payout assumptions into next year’s budget so the sheriff’s office is not forced to operate under a hiring freeze.

The board approved the action on a voice vote without a roll‑call record in the transcript. Finance staff promised follow‑up information on remaining capital fund balances and ongoing options to address retention and market pay challenges in future budget planning.