Sheriff and prosecutors press commissioners for dozens of new public‑safety positions in budget hearings

Sheriff (speaker 5) told the commissioners the sheriff’s office is authorized for 578 positions but remains about 20 vacancies and is asking for 28 additional full‑time positions (17 on the law‑enforcement side, 11 in corrections) and roughly $3.0 million for personnel and benefits to reduce overtime and fill shifts. "We just need the tools to make sure that we can make that happen," the sheriff said, urging the court to consider expanded budgets for medical and pharmaceutical costs tied to inmates.

District Attorney Sean Dykes (speaker 7) supported increased staffing for the justice system and outlined operational needs including replacement vehicles for investigators and four requested positions for his office, noting trial expenses — expert witnesses, toxicology and travel — have become harder to predict and more costly. Dykes urged the county to prioritize a modern digital evidence management system (DEMS 2) to speed trial preparation and avoid reset delays.

Other justice‑system speakers urged targeted hires to support specialized functions. Speaker 11 described the potential loss of a grant‑funded specialty court program manager and warned that if the grant position is removed the family recovery court and an associated community coalition could cease to exist without a county‑funded replacement. The constable (speaker 15) asked the court to approve replacement tasers for deputies at an estimated cost of $77,332, saying warranty and cartridge support will soon end.

County officials and the tax assessor‑collector (Larry Geddes, speaker 12) noted revenue constraints under a state maintenance‑and‑operations cap (3.5 percent) and the expected effects of the 2025 HB 9 business personal property exemption on the county’s taxable base. Those constraints, commissioners said, will shape how many of the public‑safety requests the court can afford this year.

The hearing produced no formal vote or binding commitment; commissioners said they would prioritize requests as the budget office analyzes taxable value estimates and other revenue inputs. The court is expected to consider these personnel requests through the normal budget adoption process this spring.