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Sheriff asks to use homeland security funds for vehicle and requests an additional deputy
Summary
Sheriff Steve Swenson asked the commission to reallocate $42,000 from jail vehicle funding to purchase a pickup for the command post using released homeland security funds and requested adding a second deputy position for the next year, estimated at about $100,000 including benefits; he said calls for service are up about 15%.
Sheriff Steve Swenson told the commission the sheriff's office wishes to use recently released 2025 homeland security funds to buy a 3/4-ton pickup for the county command post and asked to add another deputy for next year.
"Our 2025 ask was for a 0.75 ton pickup, for our command post... that's been granted," Swenson said, asking to remove $42,000 from the jail budget to pay for the vehicle when funds are released. He added that calls for service have increased roughly 15% and asked for a second full-time deputy next year, estimating the cost of a deputy with benefits at about $100,000. "The cost of FTS for a deputy is about 100,000 with benefits," Swenson said. Commissioners discussed whether to include the deputy in the provisional budget or delay the decision until budget hearings.
The commissioners did not immediately adopt a change to the provisional budget to add the deputy; they agreed to continue discussions during budget hearings and noted the provisional publication does not lock in final appropriations.
