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Sheriff Corey Hockas presents 2027 budget, cites staffing and overtime pressures
Summary
Sheriff Corey Hockas told the board his 2027 budget request is roughly $85,000 below the 2026 level even after planned wage increases and emphasized persistent overtime, minimum-staffing obligations from the Department of Corrections, and equipment needs.
Sheriff Corey Hockas presented the sheriff's office budget and told commissioners the 2027 request is modestly lower than 2026 even with planned raises. "And for 2027, we're $85,000 below that even after, wage increases," Hockas said, explaining a large part of prior spending came from boarding inmates out to other facilities and surge costs tied to staffing shortfalls.
Hockas outlined continuing drivers of public-safety costs: wages, benefits, overtime and jail medical care. He told commissioners the office currently has four sergeants and "a total of, I think, 24 licensed officers," and stressed Department of Corrections requirements for minimum staffing. Hockas said some overtime is reimbursed through grants and that an equipment line of roughly $150,000 is planned to retrofit squad cars. Commissioners pressed for deeper staffing and overtime analysis and for working with HR to test whether adding a few full-time positions could reduce overtime costs over time.
