Lancaster County sheriff seeks modest 1% budget increase, funds planning for Real Time Crime Center

Lancaster County Sheriff Terry Wagner presented the Sheriff’s Office proposed FY2026–2027 budget to the Board of Commissioners on June 2, saying the office expects to finish the current year within budget but seeks an increase of roughly $147,000, or about 1 percent, over the department’s approximately $19.5 million budget.

Wagner and Chief Deputy Ben Houchin attributed the increase to higher Motorola licensing fees, increased postage and printing costs, workers’ compensation insurance, charges from City Information Services, emergency communications center costs, court costs, and higher vehicle and liability insurance and radio maintenance expenses. They told commissioners the office intentionally did not include planned undercover vehicle purchases this year, which reduced costs by about $53,000, and reduced Verizon cellular expenses by about $21,000. Wagner said salary increases related to upcoming Fraternal Order of Police contract negotiations were not included because negotiations were not yet complete.

Commissioner Rick Vest questioned the rise in City Information Services allocations; Wagner and Houchin said those charges are allocated proportionately among users and largely outside the Sheriff’s Office’s control. Dennis Meyer, Budget and Fiscal Officer, provided personnel information as part of the presentation. Wagner said two recent promotions created vacancies, one deputy is attending the academy, and the office expects to fill additional vacancies through future academy classes.

Houchin reviewed technology and capital requests, including resuming a five‑year computer replacement schedule after pandemic-related delays, continued progress on the Criminal Justice Information System replacement (with a target for late 2027 implementation), and several sinking fund requests. Those sinking fund requests include early planning funds for a Real Time Crime Center in coordination with the Lincoln Police Department (funds that Houchin said would likely remain unused during the coming fiscal year while planning continues), replacement of weapons and radios, construction of a storage building at the shooting range, and continued support for CJIS work.

Wagner and Houchin also described facility pressures at the West "O" Street site and discussed emerging drone technology that could assist deputies in incident assessment. Wagner closed by thanking the Board for supporting long-term capital planning and sinking fund reserves; Commissioners Vest and Sean Flowerday agreed that maintaining reserves helps avoid emergency appropriations and financing costs.

The Board will continue detailed budget deliberations as part of the regular budget process.