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Prairie County sheriff seeks budget increases, proposes Mako IT swap and applies for grant to buy two vehicles
Summary
The county sheriff outlined modest increases in sheriff/coroner line items, proposed switching procurement and support to Mako IT to cut computer and camera costs, and said he applied for a $140,000 CDS grant to buy two fully upfitted patrol vehicles.
The county sheriff presented the sheriff/coroner budget to commissioners and asked for targeted increases and line‑item changes to reflect operational needs and recent program shifts. He detailed small salary and employer‑contribution adjustments for coroner duties, added a deputy call‑out stipend and training lines, and said the office expects a roughly $1,300 net increase compared with last year’s ask.
The sheriff recommended moving procurement and support for sheriff’s office IT and security systems to Mako IT after a demonstration that, he said, cut equipment quotes dramatically. "Carly gave me that same tower for $1,200," the sheriff said, contrasting it with a $2,500 estimate through the current statewide contract. He said Mako would provide monthly on‑site checks at no extra cost and could do camera and electronic‑door projects for roughly one‑third of the DIS quote.
Why it matters: the procurement change, if approved, could materially reduce near‑term capital needs for the sheriff’s office and lower recurring contracted‑service costs. The sheriff said savings would offset other increases and that staff would still present final quotes and transition plans to the commission.
The sheriff also said he applied for a CDS grant seeking $140,000 to purchase two fully upfitted vehicles. "This money here would be to buy two brand‑new vehicles fully outfitted," he told the board, adding that the application reached the finance committee and that final award decisions typically arrive in late summer. If funded, the purchase would accelerate a planned vehicle rotation and reduce repair pressure on older fleet units.
The sheriff emphasized continuity of essential services in the budget calculus — from coroner call‑outs to patrol staffing — and asked commissioners for guidance on whether to maintain certain lines if grant awards are delayed. He said some items (like chaplain supplies and chaplain fuel for volunteer services) would be cost‑shared with nearby agencies when possible.
Next steps: commissioners asked staff to include Mako quotes and the CDS grant status in the next packet and to show the net budget impact in a revised worksheet. No formal vote was taken; the budget remains under discussion.
