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Sheriff presses for additional deputy as commissioners weigh on‑call pay alternative
Summary
The sheriff asked commissioners to fund additional staffing after sustained overtime and staff burnout; fiscal options discussed included hiring a full‑time deputy (estimated ~$70K total comp) or an on‑call stipend (~$23K estimate). Commissioners requested a detailed budget analysis showing overtime offsets before the upcoming budget decision.
The Fallon County Sheriff’s Office presented staffing concerns and proposed budget options to address persistent overtime and staff fatigue.
The sheriff outlined that deputies are working substantial overtime, pointing to an FY24‑25 overtime expenditure of roughly $26–27K; commissioners and staff discussed two principal remedies: hire an additional full‑time deputy (estimated total compensation including benefits in the $70,000 range) or implement a paid on‑call stipend for deputies (estimated in staff analysis at about $23,000 annually at a proposed $6/hr rate for on‑call hours).
Sheriff’s office representatives said recruiting and field‑training a new deputy would require months of investment (academy and in‑field training) but would reduce overtime and give deputies more reliable time off. Commissioners acknowledged public perception concerns — especially following recent municipal hires — and asked for a detailed fiscal memo showing how a new hire would offset overtime and other costs. The board agreed to consider the request during the upcoming budget cycle and asked the sheriff to provide supporting overtime and coverage data for evaluation.
