Sheriff asks DeKalb commissioners to restore office budget, seeks 5% pay increase, cameras, vehicles and ARPA gap funding
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Summary
Sheriff told the committee the office should be restored to prior funding levels and requested a 5% compensation adjustment countywide for sheriff employees, upgrades to camera servers and cameras, replacement vehicles and $282,625 to cover the remainder of an expiring ARPA transport grant.
The DeKalb County Sheriff asked commissioners at the special call to restore the Sheriff’s Office budget to prior levels and to consider additional funding requests intended to preserve staffing and operations. The sheriff sought a 5% compensation adjustment for employees, citing recruitment and retention challenges, and asked to restore previously higher funding rather than accept a year‑over‑year reduction.
On technology and equipment, the sheriff described a multi‑phase camera‑system upgrade and recent server replacements and said a second phase would upgrade remaining housing unit pods and cameras. The office noted previously ordered weapons now require payment to vendors and asked for replacement vehicles to sustain transport and field operations.
Fiscal staff confirmed a $282,625 ARPA transport grant will expire Oct. 31 and that awarded funds will be expended by mid‑April; the sheriff requested county funding to cover the gap from mid‑April through Dec. 31. Commissioners asked staff to provide comparative benefits information for the county police department and sheriff’s office (housing allowances, hiring bonuses and medical coverage) over the last decade to evaluate parity and feasibility.
Committee members praised the office’s accreditation achievements and discussed medium‑ and long‑term plans such as diversion centers to reduce jail costs; no formal vote was taken at the meeting.
