Sheriff asks board to fund more supervisors, correctional staff and specialty canines to curb overtime

Sheriff Dustin presented the law enforcement and corrections portions of the FY26 budget and urged the board to consider adding personnel to reduce chronic overtime expenditures. He said overtime has averaged about $450,000 a year for patrol and about $386,287 for corrections, while budgeted overtime levels remain far lower.

"I think it is... it does not make sense for a modern police department to not have 24/7 supervisory coverage," the sheriff said, asking for two additional sergeants and up to four deputy positions. He explained that adding staff could reduce overtime payouts and improve officer wellness and retention.

The sheriff also requested one-time funding for an explosives canine for the courthouse (about $25,000 initial cost and roughly $1,500 annually thereafter) and two additional court security officers, citing statutory expectations for courtroom coverage. He noted specialty funds and drug forfeiture revenues are used for some K-9 and forfeiture-related purchases but that statute prohibits using forfeiture funds for certain items (for example, explosives K-9s in his reading).

For corrections, the sheriff recommended either increasing overtime budget lines to reflect historical spending or investing in additional correctional officers to reduce overtime and the practice of housing inmates out of county when staffing is insufficient. He provided startup estimates for adding deputies/sergeants (about $100,000 per position initial cost and ~$20,000 recurring equipment/maintenance, excluding salary).

No formal vote on staffing additions occurred; the sheriff offered to provide detailed cost breakdowns and to meet with board members and administration for follow up.