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Sheriff budget trimmed; commissioners flag rising juvenile housing costs
Summary
Hancock County reduced selected sheriff line items and moved $72,284 related to one SRO position; commissioners also highlighted a recent juvenile case costing about $300 a day in out‑of‑county housing and said they may seek food-and‑beverage funds to cover unexpected juvenile detention expenses.
The Hancock County commissioners approved several adjustments to the sheriff’s budget on July 8 after a lengthy discussion about staffing, courthouse security and rising juvenile housing costs.
Sheriff Burkhart briefed the council on courthouse security staffing and on a recent juvenile who was picked up locally but was being held in Johnson County at an estimated $300 per day. Burkhart said the county’s juvenile housing costs can escalate quickly when out‑of‑county placements are used.
"I just found out yesterday that [a juvenile] was picked up here in Greenfield, that's being held in Johnson County on our charges ... they're paying $300 a day for me to house a juvenile there," the sheriff said, stressing that sustained placements at that rate could become a material new expense.
Commissioners negotiated offsets and agreed to reduce some sheriff line items, including a $72,284 adjustment tied to an SRO/resource officer arrangement with the RDC. They also approved reducing a courthouse‑security line by $55,000 (to be reconsidered if staffing or operational circumstances change) and moved other equipment and vehicle items to different funding sources where appropriate.
The council recorded the votes approving those modifications; members said they would revisit pension and COLA options in a future meeting after actuary breakdowns are provided.
What happens next: The sheriff will return with further details on long‑term juvenile housing exposure and actuary figures for retirement/COLA options; commissioners signaled willingness to find offsets or bring back additional appropriations if necessary.
