Quarterly budget update flags sheriff overtime shortfall; supervisors seek follow-up

County budget staff presented the third-quarter fiscal-year 2025–26 budget report on June 9, highlighting an overall $11.4 million positive variance in general fund revenues but identifying significant department-level shortfalls.

The Sheriff’s Office projects a $10.1 million negative variance driven mainly by overtime costs, budget managers said. “This deficit is primarily for overtime,” the budget director reported; Sheriff Brown joined by Zoom to explain that structural staffing shortages in the jail and staffing and training constraints have driven a reliance on overtime to maintain basic operations.

Board members and staff discussed vacancy levels, training timelines and the need for improved overtime tracking; the sheriff said hours are trending down and the department is pursuing measures to lower overtime. Supervisors requested cumulative audits and a workshop to review overtime drivers and possible remedies; staff said the sheriff and executive office will return to the board on June 23 to provide more detailed analysis.

The board received and filed the Q3 report by unanimous motion and directed additional follow-up on sheriff overtime and department deficits.