Lincoln County weighs sheriff’s budget as vehicle purchases and radio upgrades loom

County officials moved from the library agenda to a discussion of sheriff department budget changes, where nearly all proposed increases reflected salary and benefits adjustments and a separate line for vehicle upfitting that had been omitted in earlier drafts.

Presenter (S5) told the committee the modifications in the sheriff budget are “almost exclusively salary and benefits” and added a vehicle upfitting line for recent and planned vehicle work. Committee members noted a $300,000 vehicle request and discussed a pending federal gas/vehicle grant that was held up, with staff reporting the earliest potential arrival would be in March of the next cycle if approved.

S5 outlined options for a radio and console upgrade and said the county is evaluating vendors: Motorola was described as too expensive, Bosch as a more generalized option, and Harris as the best fit for dispatch needs because it offered flexibility and a clearer roadmap for future upgrades: “Harris... would be the best fit for what we’re looking to do,” S5 said. Costs were not finalized.

Committee members prioritized vehicles as the top operational need for the fiscal year while recognizing the long-term value of dispatch upgrades. They discussed removing radios or delaying that line to reduce the immediate bottom-line impact until grant decisions are final; S5 agreed to return with updated numbers and a proposal for how to proceed if grant funding does not materialize.

The group also discussed other budget pressures, including an intergovernmental city–county animal control contract and a city dispatch/records contract (listed around $95,000 on the revenues page), and asked staff to verify larger 'other purchases' lines that might be adjusted.

On infrastructure, S4 reported progress on radio tower work at the Black View site and discussed moving away from a Crown Castle tower to reduce future costs. The committee directed staff to update the sheriff budget worksheet and return with prioritized options and grant-status notes; no formal vote was taken.