Finance committee approves $45,000 emergency allocation for sheriff to retain two grant-funded positions

Sheriff Streeter asked the finance committee to pick up funding for two grant-funded positions — a gang investigator and a domestic-violence investigator — to avoid losing those slots before the next budget cycle. "We have had four police officers ambushed in their vehicles," Streeter said, arguing that the department cannot afford to lose personnel now.

Committee members debated whether surplus funds identified at budget time remained available and whether ARPA funds or an emergency appropriation were legally permissible to cover salary costs. Members noted an earlier discussion of sign-on bonuses and a reported remaining surplus figure in staff materials; staff clarified that some of that money had already been allocated for bonuses and other uses.

After discussion, an unnamed committee member moved an emergency allocation of $45,000 to the sheriff’s department to help fund the two positions through the end of the fiscal year; the motion was seconded and approved by voice vote. The motion passed without a recorded roll-call; the committee confirmed it would sort permanent funding at next year’s budget cycle.

Members also discussed temporary operational measures, including rotating coverage at the courthouse and potential vehicle GPS/location systems for officer safety. Sheriff's office staff said they would work with committee members on options and accept whatever funding the committee could provide today.

The committee’s action was described as a short-term measure to bridge staffing until permanent funding can be set at budget time.