Sheriff cites staffing shortages, requests $194,000 in transfers for jail overtime and retiree leave; commissioners approve

Gregg County’s sheriff told commissioners on April 14 that the jail is facing severe staffing shortages and rising medical costs, and the court approved a pair of budget transfers to cover overtime and accrued‑leave costs.

The sheriff said the office currently has 18 open positions — including 12 jailers, two jail nurses and four deputies — and that the county’s jail population had climbed to about 715 inmates while reporting a total capacity of roughly 916. He said 81 federal inmates and 41 contract inmates accounted for an additional 122 paying beds on the roster.

To keep operations staffed, the sheriff asked the court to approve a $150,000 transfer from group health insurance to jail operations overtime. He also later requested a $44,000 transfer to cover accrued leave costs tied to two recent retirements, including a lieutenant and a long‑time nurse. The court approved both transfers by voice vote.

Commissioners questioned training requirements and statewide recruitment pressures for jail staff. The sheriff said legislative changes and state training requirements have extended academy time and that counties are drawing from the same pool of qualified recruits. He warned medical costs are also outpacing budgeted amounts, saying the county had spent about $500,000 with CHRISTUS last year and currently was already into local taxpayer funds for indigent care beyond contract waivers.

The court also approved appointments to the Sexual Assault Response Team (SART/START) to fill a vacancy and named Lieutenant Jonathan Pryor as the sheriff’s presiding member for START. The sheriff said the SART consolidation with neighboring counties shares resources and staff.

The transfers were approved by voice vote and commissioners asked staff to monitor staffing and budget trends going forward.