Sheriff urges board to fund more deputies, cites grant constraints and requests cost options

Sheriff Jason told commissioners that while the agency shows a headcount on paper, many deputy positions are grant- or contract-funded and therefore not universally deployable. He listed grant-funded roles (two positions funded by PGE, two at schools, an ATV position and a half-time domestic violence position) and said temporary funding makes long-term staffing uncertain because deputies trained under short-term grants often leave for other agencies once better offers appear.

"If we have more patrol deputy positions, then it allows us more flexibility in keeping the folks where they're supposed to be," the sheriff said. He described a recent period in which multiple deputies were unavailable (vacation, sick leave, administrative leave following an officer-involved shooting), producing a shortage that the office covered with overtime and help from contract partners; he warned that approach is not sustainable.

On staffing targets, the sheriff said a realistic, fully functional patrol complement would include about 14 undedicated patrol deputies (not detectives or contracted positions) and that an additional $2 million in recurring funds would be a significant step toward that level. Commissioners asked for a "fully loaded" cost breakdown, including salary, benefits, vehicles and equipment, and asked staff to build budget options for adding one, two or more deputies and the supervisory changes that would follow. Commissioners acknowledged the need to balance fiscal reserves with public safety priorities and directed the sheriff and the budget officer to present explicit cost scenarios for the upcoming budget process.

The discussion ended without a final funding decision; the board asked for options and next steps to be factored into the budget calendar.