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Sheriff outlines FY27 budget priorities, asks for deputies and Project Lifesaver funding
Summary
Sheriff Lehi Hill presented the office's FY27 priorities, requesting 12 full‑time deputies (six courthouse, six operations), funding for Project Lifesaver ($15,000) and civilian support for quartermaster and communications duties. He emphasized courtroom security, transports and community programs.
Sheriff Lehi Hill presented the Prince William County Sheriff’s Office FY27 budget request and described operational pressures at the courthouse and with transports.
Hill said courthouse security and courtroom staffing are a top priority and asked for additional uniformed deputies (12 FTEs requested) split between courthouse assignments and operational/transport roles, in part to ensure two‑person transports and to reduce fatigue and safety risk. He noted that juvenile‑court changes (restrictions on restraints effective July 1) have increased courtroom staffing needs.
The sheriff highlighted community programs including Project Lifesaver, which provides tracking bracelets to vulnerable residents, and the Senior Safe program that supplies medical alert equipment at no charge. Hill asked for $15,000 in FY27 to buy additional bracelets and replacement parts to address a waiting list of applicants.
Hill also requested additional civilian staff to relieve a single overburdened quartermaster and to add communications and business‑services support, saying the current civilian dedicated to procurement and inventory is overwhelmed.
Board members asked about hiring and retention; Hill said recruiting remains competitive and emphasized maintaining high standards. Supervisors discussed transports to crisis receiving centers and noted that new regional facilities could relieve some long‑distance transports but that long‑distance trips will remain part of operations.
The Board thanked Sheriff Hill for his presentation and for detailing the operational needs tied to court workload and community services.
