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Worcester County sheriff asks for 20% bump to recruit and retain deputies, cites grant revenue declines
Summary
Sheriff's Office requested a FY2026 budget increase of about $3.4 million (20%) to raise starting pay, retain staff, convert a part-time property/evidence role to full time and replace vehicles and capital equipment. The office expects a 35% drop in grant revenue that helped fund body-worn cameras and seeks to cover fuel, training and equipment.
Worcester County Sheriff’s Office presented a FY2026 budget request on April 8 seeking an overall increase of roughly $3.4 million (20%) to address recruitment and retention, equipment replacement and anticipated declines in grant funding.
Sheriff (name not given) told commissioners the office ranked near the bottom in regional pay comparisons for starting, mid-career (15-year) and top salaries, and asked for a multi-year plan to raise compensation so the agency can attract and retain qualified deputies. The sheriff argued competitive pay affects applicant quality, and also proposed converting a part-time property/evidence management position to full time to consolidate quartermaster and property-room duties.
On revenue, the office expects increases from contracted overtime and venue security details, but a significant decrease in grant funding — a roughly 35% projected drop driven largely by the end of a PACT grant that had underwritten the body-worn camera program. The sheriff said the PACT grant supplied $814,092 over the program’s first three years and that loss will materially affect operating revenue unless replaced.
Line-item expenditure requests included $55,000 for law-enforcement forensic equipment, $52,000 for increased fuel costs, modest increases for K-9 training and professional education, and $183,000 for contract support in emergency management functions. The office proposed modest operating increases totaling a 2.6% rise in the operating budget when offsetting reductions are applied.
Commissioners asked whether revenue from contractual details (casinos, major events, private security) covers associated overtime and fringe costs; the sheriff confirmed those details are billed to recover full costs. Commissioners also asked whether the office compares vendors and seeks cost savings on equipment such as vehicle telematics; staff said they review vendor options.
The sheriff closed by urging commissioners to consider the human cost and community value of public-safety work when reviewing compensation decisions.
