Sheriff says grants are funding new patrol capacity; board weighs adding administrative staff

Sheriff Eric Ellison told Greenlee County supervisors that the sheriff’s office has secured a large amount of grant funding and asked the board to approve additional staff to manage those grants and mandated systems.

“We’re probably close to about $1.8 million in grants that we’ve got since I’ve been in office,” Ellison said, describing funding that has paid for overtime, patrol vehicles and school safety work. He argued the county needs dedicated administrative staff to manage increasing grant reporting and the LASSO/CJIS compliance role that the state is now requiring so local officers can continue to access criminal justice information systems.

Ellison asked for two administrative assistants — one to support the sheriff’s office and one for the jail — plus a LASSO position and a detention liaison officer. He said the Burns and other state grants can cover much of the cost but cautioned the board that grants are a mix of stable and variable funding streams: “Some grants are extremely stable. Other grants come and go with administrations,” he told the board.

County Administrator Derek Repier and finance staff recommended a more cautious approach. They proposed funding one administrative assistant to start, then evaluate whether an additional position is needed. “Staff’s recommendation is that we start with one and see how that goes, and then build into a second one,” Repier said, citing concerns about adding permanent general‑fund obligations if grants expire.

Board members expressed support for capturing grant dollars but also asked for safeguards: cross‑training, documented transition plans if grant funding ends, and clear delineation of which line items would become ongoing county obligations. Supervisors also discussed how a grant‑funded school resource officer can alter patrol headcount, leaving the sheriff one patrol deputy short unless a replacement is added to the regular roster.

Separately, the board approved a $55,975 Operation Stone Garden grant presented by Ellison to fund overtime for immigration and narcotics patrols. The board also agreed in principle to include some of the sheriff’s requested positions in the tentative FY27 budget, with staff refining cost and grant‑reimbursement details ahead of the next meeting.

The board requested further documentation on which salaries would be grant‑reimbursed, whether reimbursement is front‑ or back‑loaded, and whether any positions should be posted internally. Staff will return with budget language and options for the June budget session.