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Sheriff asks commissioners for $136.6 million budget as office highlights tech gains and staffing progress

Hamilton County Board of County Commissioners · November 13, 2025

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Summary

Sheriff McGuffey presented a $136.6 million 2026 request emphasizing recruitment gains, investments in body-worn and cruiser cameras via the Axon contract, a jail management system and drone operations tied to a real-time operations center; commissioners discussed staffing targets, labor negotiations and capital funding sources.

Sheriff McGuffey presented the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office 2026 budget request on Nov. 18 and outlined operational improvements and technology investments the office says are improving safety and efficiency.

McGuffey said the department has implemented a 10-year Axon contract (body-worn cameras, cruiser cameras and drone capability) and uses a FUSIS-powered real-time operations center to process data, cameras and other feeds. “This is cutting edge technology that almost nobody else has in this region,” she said, adding the office is working to staff a 24/7 real-time operations center in the coming years.

The sheriff described progress on recruitment and retention, noting headcount increases from the low point and a current staffing level the presentation lists at 908 with a full-complement target of 972. McGuffey said the sheriff’s office is requesting a $136,600,000 operating budget for 2026, with roughly $116 million earmarked for personnel and about $98 million targeted for personnel in county allotments, and asked commissioners to consider the staffing and wage pressures tied to collective bargaining agreements.

Commissioners praised recruitment gains and asked technical follow-ups about funding flows when the sheriff’s office provides contracted patrols to municipalities. Commissioners also pressed for clarity on full-complement targets and how municipal contracts affect county revenues. McGuffey described replacing a helicopter program with drone capabilities for many functions and said drones have helped solve violent crime cases while reducing recurring costs.