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Strafford County sheriff says ICE, U.S. Marshals revenue offsets complicate her first budget
Summary
The incoming sheriff told the county delegation her first budget is largely offset by revenues from ICE and U.S. Marshals contracts, requiring higher overtime and special-deputy spending now expected to be covered by transport reimbursements; she said contracts and timing details will be clarified to the delegation.
The Strafford County sheriff told the budget subcommittee her first budget in office contains few structural increases but is complicated by contract- and revenue-driven items tied to ICE and U.S. Marshals transports.
The sheriff said labor contracts for deputies are not included in the packet and that although the deputy-salary line appears lower on paper, negotiated salaries will increase costs when those contracts are approved. She told the panel that a large part of the department's expenses are offset by revenue from ICE boarding and U.S. Marshals work.
"A lot of these things are offset by the income we take in from ICE transports and the U.S. Marshals," the sheriff said, adding that increases in both the number of transfers and per-diem rates are expected to raise revenue and corresponding overtime needs. She told the committee she expects to supply a clearer chart in the coming year showing how the overtime and transport revenue balance.
Members pressed the sheriff on the overtime and special-deputy lines after seeing sizable unexpended balances through the third quarter. The sheriff explained the department frequently incurs a large share of costs in the fourth quarter (vehicle payments, special-deputy usage tied to transports), which can make mid-year unexpended balances appear misleading on quarterly reports.
The chair and members asked that the revenue subcommittee examine final-year numbers for clarity before final budget approval. No separate vote was taken on sheriff-specific lines during the subcommittee session; the sheriff's presentation closed with the committee moving on to corrections and community programs.
The meeting transcript shows discussion of a tentative ICE agreement and increased boarding rates; committee members requested formal documentation and timing for any change in revenue assumptions.
