Sheriff's office budget trimmed by $556,000 as officials flag detention pay increases

County officials spent the meeting’s opening reviewing the sheriff’s office budget and agreed to remove $556,000 in requested capital items — $300,000 for vehicles and $256,000 for radios — to reduce the department’s submission.

A sheriff’s office representative told the meeting, “we are way way over on our liability here,” and explained a 1% pay adjustment tied to time served in detention also applies to officers who later moved to patrol, which increased personnel costs. Officials said the 1% adjustment raised the department’s total by roughly $258,984 compared with last year’s budget and that the office will absorb some costs in its current budget while staff work to finalize the capital removals.

Officials also discussed staffing and turnover: two retirements (named in the transcript as Dwayne and Bo) are scheduled, and the sheriff’s office reported one vacancy in detention. The meeting noted an expected revenue source tied to a county van project and that the state (DPHHS) recently began paying for certain detained mental‑health clients, which officials described as a helpful change in reimbursements. The group did not take a formal vote; staff were directed to enter the agreed changes into the county finance system (Black Mountain) and return updated levy and budget figures.