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Sheriff seeks three deputies and vehicle replacements tied to Harrisburg contract; flags technology costs
Summary
Sheriff Steve told the commission the office requests three deputy positions funded by the Harrisburg contract, plans routine vehicle rotation after 514,490 miles driven, and flagged potential technology capital costs including a $50,000 dispatch recorder and a costly CAD replacement option.
Sheriff Steve presented the law-enforcement budget on June 10, explaining that most of the office's budget variance reflects vehicle rotation and costs tied to increased service demands. "We drove 514,490 miles in the last 12 months," he said, describing the fleet rotation needed to keep vehicles within desired mileage thresholds.
Steve asked for three deputy FTEs, saying the Harrisburg contract's increased workload justified the hires and that the contract increase would cover the positions. He said the sheriff's office covers multiple municipalities and that Harrisburgcontract growth has created higher demand for patrol and investigative time. He also outlined staffing plans tied to a new county courthouse opening, where additional jail and security coverage will be required.
On technology, the sheriff said the county's CAD (computer-aided dispatch) system is widely used in South Dakota and would be expensive to replace: he estimated a new CAD could cost "probably a million dollars." He characterized a $50,000 recorder purchase as a long-term (10-12 year) investment to record dispatch and radio traffic. The sheriff noted some one-time savings (a $34,000 reduction in overtime) and said he had worked to reduce overtime costs while maintaining readiness.
Commissioners asked about vehicle counts, take-home policies and retention effects. The sheriff described a hybrid model where senior staff have assigned take-home cars and patrol deputies share vehicles on rotating shifts; he said changing the policy to allow some deputies who live close-by to take cars home would assist recruitment and retention.
No formal vote occurred on these budget items during the session; commissioners took questions and the sheriff indicated he would provide requested data such as response-time statistics if staff requested it.
