County council approves $60,000 overtime boost for sheriff's office

The Vermillion County Council voted to move $60,000 from the general fund into the sheriff's office overtime budget on Aug. 10, citing repeated extended inmate hospitalizations and transport requirements.

President James told the council, “They're asking for an additional $60,000 for overtime.” Council discussion described cases in which deputies had to remain at hospitals and attend crash investigations, increasing overtime hours. A council member explained that one inmate “was in hospital for 2 weeks,” a situation that required sustained deputy coverage and contributed to the overtime need.

The motion to appropriate the funds was made and seconded; the presiding officer recorded the motion as coming from Mister Weir with a second from Mister Costello and the council approved the appropriation. The transfer will come from the general fund into the sheriff's overtime line, per the motion.

Council members noted the county also receives payments from other counties that house inmates here, a revenue stream that has added nearly $400,000 since the arrangement began, and said staff will track overtime separately to make future budgeting clearer. No alteration to staffing levels or an additional full-time position was adopted at the meeting; the appropriation is intended to cover overtime this year.

Next steps: Finance staff will implement the transfer and monitor overtime expenditures; council members discussed the potential to address recurring drivers of overtime during the next budget cycle.