Sheriff urges pay adjustments, vehicle replacement plan; commissioners approve $1,000 base raise for jail staff

The sheriff presented salary comparisons, a proposed matrix and vehicle-replacement options during the Aug. 6 budget workshop and warned commissioners that reducing current support could lead to staffing shortfalls.

The sheriff said the county had improved deputy retention after previous pay increases and warned that cutting current support would harm staffing: "So I can't make that work. We'll be in the red," he said when asked about a hypothetical cut from $160,000 to $100,000 in support for an office (discussion context: economic development funding). He also discussed vehicle-replacement strategies, suggesting a loan to replace three vehicles to spread payments and noting that upfitting costs run roughly $15,000–$20,000 per vehicle.

On compensation, the sheriff proposed changes including placing the $1,000 general increase into the pay matrix. Commissioners moved to add $1,000 to base pay for jail and deputy staff on the matrix. Commissioner Ryan Gitsby made the motion; Patrick Hale seconded. The workshop record shows a roll-call vote with each named commissioner recorded as voting yes: Patrick Hale (yes); Jim Weisman (yes); Ryan Gitsby (yes); Casey Deck (yes); Fred Tobey (yes); Kyle Lachine (yes); Jack Beckley (yes). The motion passed.

Other discussion included longevity pay budgeting and concerns over jail population and medical costs. The sheriff said patrol in-car cameras and jail cameras had provided valuable investigative evidence and described the importance of maintaining equipment.

The transcript records the $1,000 base-pay motion and roll-call vote; proposals on vehicle loans and longevity pay remained topics for further budget decisions.