EL PASO, Texas (KFOX14/CBS4) — El Paso County Sheriff Oscar Ugarte is facing questions about how his office plans to close a projected nearly $6 million budget shortfall by the end of the fiscal year, as county leaders have approved additional funding and an outside review of the department.
In a KFOX14 Community Conversations interview, Ugarte was asked to explain how the Sheriff’s Office reached the point of projecting a nearly $6 million deficit and when he first realized the office was heading toward a shortfall of that magnitude, including whether anything could have been done differently to prevent it.
The interview also focused on staffing and overtime, with Ugarte asked how many positions are currently vacant after he has said staffing shortages are a major reason for overtime costs.
Beyond personnel expenses, the Sheriff’s Office is also facing significant costs tied to inmate needs, including food, medical care and mental health services. Ugarte was asked why those costs came in higher than expected.
With the county approving more funding for the Sheriff’s Office, Ugarte was also pressed on what assurances taxpayers have that the same situation will not repeat next year, and what he sees as the single biggest change needed immediately to get the department back on track financially.
County commissioners this week approved funding for an outside assessment of the Sheriff’s Office’s facilities, operations and procedures. Ugarte was asked what he wants that assessment to find.
WATCH FULL INTERVIEW:
Community Conversations: Sheriff Ugarte speaks on the projected $6M budget shortfall
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