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Finance committee adds $266,000 to budget for four deputies; two to be assigned to south county
Summary
After extended debate over rural coverage and crime patterns, the finance committee voted to include a $266,000 increase in the sheriff’s office budget to fund four deputy positions, with the sheriff’s office to supply vehicles and equipment and two deputies earmarked for the south ("MAC B") area.
Committee discussion of sheriff’s office needs covered grants for body and in-car cameras, uniform and equipment funding and a request for additional deputies to improve response times in rural south county. Spence, speaking for the sheriff’s office, outlined coverage gaps and long response distances and said the intent was to establish deputies whose primary function would be to serve the south district.
Committee members debated whether to approve one or two deputies now or to fund more, weighing staffing costs, vehicle and equipment needs, and the county’s broader five-year staffing plan. After discussing possible savings and temporary funding mechanisms, a motion was made to allocate $266,000 to fund four deputies (including vehicles and equipment), with the sheriff’s office to cover vehicle upfitting and procurement; the motion specified that two deputies be assigned to the south "MAC B" area and that the sheriff target other high-crime areas for the remaining positions.
The committee approved the $266,000 increase by voice vote. Staff and the sheriff’s office agreed to confirm vehicle availability and to work with finance staff to finalize the implementation details and payroll coding. The committee chair asked staff to explore a quarterly review process to plan staffing across the next five years.
The transcript records the motion and that the motion carried, but it does not include a roll-call vote or individual vote tallies.
