Sheriff outlines 2026–27 budget needs, citing growth, staffing and technology pressures

Sheriff Aaron Hansen and Chief Deputy William Nema presented the Douglas County Sheriff's Office proposed 2026–27 budget to the county board June 2, describing operational pressures driven by population and commercial growth in unincorporated portions of the county.

Hansen emphasized the sheriff's statutory obligations, including patrol for unincorporated areas and court security, and cited recent incidents and increasing court demands. Chief Deputy Nema said the department's gross budget request was 3.13% over the target—$811,841—before offsetting revenues the sheriff's office expects to collect. He described those offsets (grants, PBC contributions and other anticipated receipts) as reducing the net impact to roughly $311,332.

Personnel and technology accounted for most of the request. On the personnel side, the sheriff described funding for five additional entry security officers (ESOs) required to reopen an entrance at the justice complex (a PBC expense that will be billed and returned to the general fund), several part‑time retiree deputies to preserve court security staffing, and a grant‑funded community action team position. Chief Deputy Nema described the part‑time deputies as limited by labor agreements to prisoner transport and school resource officer (SRO) coverage duties rather than broad investigative assignments.

On the technology side, the sheriff highlighted ongoing contractual and replacement expenses for mobile radios, in‑car DVRs and body cameras, cloud storage and an Axon VR training contract; he said future replacement costs for radios and body cameras could exceed several million dollars over a multi‑year horizon. Command staff also pointed to growing demands in fugitive warrant service and civil process work as drivers of expenses.

Commissioners pressed staff for detail about the $500,000 in offsetting revenue and how PBC reimbursements flow back into the general fund. Finance staff and command agreed to reconcile Oracle entries and provide a more detailed breakout. Several commissioners expressed support for requested resources that address rising emergency call loads and public safety needs while asking staff to ensure the county's budget system reflects interagency billing accurately.

No appropriation vote was taken at the presentation; the item will be considered as part of the county's regular budget review and reconciliation process.