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Board imposes temporary hiring 'bar' on sheriff's office, sheriff warns of staffing shortfalls
Summary
The board approved a budget "bar" limiting external posting and hiring in the sheriff's office except for statutory or critical positions and detention deputies; Sheriff Whit testified the office faces an 11% vacancy factor and said the authorized budget is insufficient to meet staffing needs.
The Hennepin County board adopted a budget compliance action on March 10 that restricts new external postings and hires in the Sheriff's Office except for positions deemed "critical" and for detention deputies and telecommunicator positions required to meet statutory mandates.
Commissioner Connley, who moved the measure, said the action is intended to create guardrails around property tax–funded spending amid budget pressure and to require earlier, more frequent budget updates from the sheriff's office. The motion specifies exceptions for positions necessary to meet statutory duties.
Sheriff Whit spoke at length to the committee, describing a vacancy factor north of 11% and saying the office is starting the budget year "in the red." She cited the results of third‑party staffing studies recommending dozens of additional detention deputies, sergeants and records staff, and described rising costs for jail medical care, salaries, and benefits. "Although I am approved for 883 positions, I do not receive budget for all of these positions," she said, adding that the office has submitted ad‑back requests that were not funded.
Other commissioners urged care: several said they support ensuring statutory services continue and urged quick turnaround on approvals for positions the sheriff can justify as critical. Commissioner Lendy pressed for better parity on reimbursement when the sheriff's office provides services to Minneapolis and other cities. County administration said it will continue to work with the sheriff's office and emphasized the need for clarity about what positions are "critical."
The board approved the motion by voice vote. The action requires the sheriff to document critical needs when requesting approval to hire outside the bar and directs county administration to expedite review where warranted.
