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Commissioners approve revised sheriff's budget after intense debate over pay, overtime and staffing
Summary
After a lengthy public discussion on recruitment, overtime and pay scales, Worcester County Commissioners on May 20 approved a revised FY26 budget package affecting the sheriff's office. The meeting included multiple proposals on COLA, grade adjustments and overtime; commissioners ultimately approved the 'yellow sheet' budget adjustments following
A contentious budget exchange over the sheriff's office dominated the Worcester County Commissioners' May 20 budget work session before the board approved a revised funding package for the sheriff’s office.
Sheriff Chris Foley told commissioners his office is struggling to keep pace with nearby agencies on starting pay and retention and described recurring overtime and staffing gaps. He described a package of personnel timing changes and reductions intended to reduce near‑term personnel costs, including delaying certain reclassifications and fillings and reducing some consulting and overtime requests. Foley said the department remained short several deputies and had recently absorbed additional investigative demands tied to shootings in the Pocomoke area.
The discussion centered on tradeoffs among an across‑the‑board cost‑of‑living adjustment, a one‑time grade/step change for deputies, and the level of overtime funding. Commissioners and the sheriff’s command debated whether to restore the sheriff’s original requests, how to phase pay increases, and whether to replace the broader COLA decision (earlier discussed county‑wide) with targeted grade or hazard pay increases for public‑safety staff.
Commissioners asked for and received detailed line‑item clarifications from budget staff about how delaying hires or reclassifications would affect FY26 and FY27 costs, and about how benefits and retirement calculations (including LEOPS) would change if starting pay or grade scales were adjusted.
After extensive discussion and several motions, the board voted to adopt the budget adjustments reflected on the commissioners’ “yellow sheet,” restoring much of the sheriff’s requested personnel funding while removing or delaying a small package of one‑time equipment/service items discussed during debate. The record shows commissioners approved the revised budget package in a recorded vote following the work session.
Sheriff Foley and several commissioners said they would continue to press for long‑term pay competitiveness to reduce turnover and to keep response times low; commissioners also directed staff to produce faster, clearer cost scenarios if they wish to revisit grade or pay changes before the final budget adoption.
The debate underscored tensions that many counties face between holding reserves for contingencies and using a surplus to raise employee pay and attract or retain staff in high‑cost hiring markets.
