Sheriff asks commission for 10 deputies; commissioners ask for six‑month data report and public hearing before deciding

Sheriff's office leaders outlined two budget proposals for deputy staffing at the April 13 work session: one would add ten deputies on top of the county baseline; the other would reallocate four positions into contract‑city staffing and add six deputies so the sheriff would still deliver the promised '10' for contract coverage. The presentation tied the request to a target contract‑city ratio of 0.72 and said contract cities have been informed of the potential adjustment.

Commissioners pressed for robust, auditable data before approving any change. The sheriff's office said Spillman coding for general‑fund duties has been implemented and that staff would deliver a six‑month report showing deputies’ time use. Commissioners and the sheriff discussed differences between being 'fully staffed on paper' and 'fully staffed in the field,' and stressed the need to separate general‑fund deputies from contract positions for accurate accounting.

Several commissioners reiterated support for adding 10 deputies in principle but said they would not approve reallocation or a tax increase without defensible data and, if necessary, public support from affected mayors. One commissioner proposed scheduling the required public hearing to memorialize any budget change and asked staff to return with updated language and numbers in the next few days. The commission did not take a final vote at the work session.

Sheriff staff agreed to produce a written report, provide the requested staffing contacts for contract counties, and work with county administration to schedule the public hearing in time for contract cities' budget cycles.