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Commission schedules budget hearing on two K‑9s to be funded from opioid settlement money
Summary
County staff proposed buying two sheriff K‑9s and associated vehicles, training and equipment using opioid settlement funds; staff estimated initial opioid‑funded costs at about $137,052 and recurring county sheriff costs at about $194,005 per year; commissioners asked for more budget detail and set a budget hearing.
County staff returned to the board with a refined proposal to buy two law enforcement canines using opioid settlement dollars. The presentation detailed initial and recurring costs and how operating expenses would be split between opioid settlement funds and the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office.
What was proposed: Staff said initial outlays for the two canines (training, handler travel, service kits and vehicle purchase/retrofit) would be approximately $137,052. Annual operating costs charged to the opioid settlement fund were estimated at about $10,712. Sheriff’s Office recurring costs — primarily handler salary, vehicle maintenance and fuel — were projected at roughly $194,005 per year.
Questions and concerns: Several commissioners thanked staff for refining numbers but asked for clearer program development line items and caps before authorizing recurring spending; one commissioner expressed unease about using opioid settlement money for enforcement‑oriented K‑9 units rather than prevention and treatment programs. Staff said the sheriff’s office would track canine activity and provide quarterly reports on opioid‑related calls and other uses.
Next steps: Commissioners agreed to include the canine purchases and program development line items in the January budget hearing process and asked staff to submit proposed line items and caps by a Monday deadline to allow advertisement before the hearing.
At the meeting: No final purchase vote was taken; the board approved scheduling a formal budget hearing and requested more detailed line‑item proposals from staff, including monitoring and quarterly reporting requirements.
