Commissioners ask for wage study and overtime report as detention staffing and retention pressures grow

Sheriff’s office leaders told the commission the county’s detention workforce is thin, staffing certified positions is difficult, and comp time and overtime hours are growing as the jail population increases.

The sheriff said the county was struggling to recruit certified detention officers; he described competing pay elsewhere (including DOC) and noted the county had roughly four detention employees on staff with two uncertified. Officials reported the jail population had risen and that a handful of recent felony cases had required roughly 1,500 man‑hours to investigate and manage.

Commissioners asked for a formal wage study and for detail on overtime and comp‑time liabilities to inform the upcoming budget. They requested comparative pay and benefits data from nearby jurisdictions and asked the sheriff to prepare numbers the board could use when considering pay increases or backfill decisions.

The board discussed a request to backfill a patrol sergeant position as a deputy position to alleviate supervisory gaps; commissioners asked staff and the sheriff to return with a cost estimate, the effect on benefits and any budget changes required.

No formal pay increases were approved at the meeting; commissioners instead directed staff to provide written information before any budget action.