EL PASO, Texas (KFOX14/CBS4) — El Paso County officials say they support the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office as they continue discussions over the agency’s budget and staffing needs.

In a statement issued on behalf of Commissioners Court and County Administration, the county said it values “the dedicated men and women who serve in the Sheriff’s Office” and recognizes “the important work they do every day.”

The county also emphasized what it called an equally important obligation to ensure fiscal responsibility and transparency in how public resources are allocated.

The county said it appreciates the sheriff’s commitment to his staff and to community safety, but said it requires “clear data and supporting information to evaluate requests for additional resources” and to ensure those requests align with statutory responsibilities and measurable outcomes.”

As part of the budget process, the county said it has asked the Sheriff’s Office to prioritize its requests, focusing first on core, statutorily required functions such as detention operations.

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The county also said it has requested context for initiatives that extend beyond those requirements, along with detailed information on how proposed resources would affect service levels, operational outcomes and areas identified as needing improvement as staffing allocations are considered.

According to the county, preliminary information indicates that overall staffing levels are generally in line with national benchmarks.

The county said this fiscal year is the first time the jails do not have any detention officer vacancies, resulting in more resources available than in recent years.

The county said it recognizes concerns related to overtime and is seeking additional data to better understand and address what is driving overtime, its impacts, and any potential correlation to operational outcomes.

Sheriff Oscar Ugarte previously stated that not having enough staff and having overtime have caused issues with their budget.

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