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Board approves $3.27M increase to sheriff’s budget after overtime and facility repair shortfalls
Summary
Sheriff’s staff told supervisors overtime, training and unplanned facility repairs drove a projected FY25–26 budget overrun; the board approved a $3.266 million augmentation, agreed to monthly budget reporting (with overtime spotlight), and requested audit follow‑up and corrective planning.
The Monterey County Board of Supervisors on June 23 approved a $3.266 million mid‑year augmentation to the Sheriff’s Office budget to cover projected FY2025–26 shortfalls largely driven by overtime expenditures, unanticipated facility repairs and retirement-related payouts.
Under Sheriff Boyd explained the primary drivers: the office budgeted approximately $4.2 million for overtime but recorded roughly $11.5 million in overtime costs through May 29, 2026 — a gap of about $7.4 million. The sheriff’s office said overtime was driven by mandatory minimum staffing requirements, high levels of protected leave and vacancies across sworn and professional staff, and the cost of backfilling posts while deputies are in the academy or training.
Facility-related unbudgeted expenses included a July power outage and January flooding that damaged jail offices and elevator systems (combined facility repair and mitigation costs cited near $300,000) and HVAC/other repairs (~$150,000). The office also recorded roughly $650,000 in unbudgeted retirement payouts tied to recent retirements. The sheriff’s office said risk management is pursuing insurance reimbursement for some infrastructure costs but had not yet received recoveries.
Supervisors expressed frustration at repeated high overtime overruns in past years and asked for greater real‑time budget monitoring. The board approved the augmentation but directed the county administrative office and the sheriff’s office to provide monthly budget updates to the budget committee with a specific focus on overtime trends, hiring and corrective actions. The board also noted an ongoing external audit of the sheriff’s financials and requested staff return with a corrective plan, including efforts to reduce vacancies and better forecast overtime.
What’s next: The auditor and county staff will continue auditing and reviewing sheriff’s payroll and overtime methodology; the sheriff’s office said the FY2026–27 budget will carry increased reserves for retirement payouts, temporary employees and higher overtime assumptions. The board requested monthly monitoring reports and additional follow‑up recommendations as needed.
