El Paso County sheriff shifts staff to cut overtime after nearly $6M deficit

EL PASO, TEXAS (KFOX14/CBS4) — El Paso County officials are seeking more details about overtime spending at the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office after the agency ended the last fiscal year with a nearly $6 million deficit, with overtime cited as the main driver.

Sheriff Oscar Ugarte said the department has relied on overtime to run certain special operations, including DWI enforcement, because it does not have a dedicated DWI unit.

“DWI is one of the biggest concerns for our community. The sheriff’s office does not have a dedicated DWI unit. So, I implemented these operations on overtime,” Ugarte said.

“You know, my goal is to have a fully funded DWI task force where they’re actually working on regular duty instead of funding them through overtime.”

Ugarte said the sheriff’s office is shifting positions in an effort to cut overtime costs while still meeting state requirements.

“We’re still meeting all the mandates through the state, but the reassignment of those personnel, we believe that it will reduce the number of overtimes approximately 40%,” Ugarte said.

The reduction is expected to come from moving operations officers to the downtown jail and annex to help cover staffing needs.

Emily Schmalz reports on El Paso County sheriff shifts staff to cut overtime after nearly $6M deficit (Credit: KFOX14)

Even with that change, the sheriff’s office is still requesting overtime funding for special operations this fiscal year, including preplanned DWI operations and Red Sands operations.

The total request for special operations is about $356,000. More than $220,000 of that is for DWI operations, including more than $39,000 for DWI contingencies.

More than $93,000 is for Red Sands operations.

El Paso County Commissioner Sergio Coronado said commissioners did not take action on the requested funds as they continue to seek more information.

“Especially the DWI operations and special ops the sheriff has done. I think those are needed,” Coronado said. “We just need a little bit more information.”

Coronado said commissioners are generally on board with DWI and special operations but want more details before approving additional overtime.

He also raised concerns about the time involved in DWI arrests.

“When somebody makes an arrest on a DWI, it takes them out of patrol,” Coronado said.

As county officials continue reviewing the nearly $6 million deficit, Coronado said they are still trying to determine whether issues at the sheriff’s office justify that amount.

“Whether those issues rise to the amount of the $6 million that the sheriff’s office did for this past year? I don’t know. My position is from what H.R. told us is probably not,” Coronado said.

The sheriff’s office also addressed questions about its new fleet.

Ugarte said the vehicles were funded through a pre-approved project and did not affect the budget.

“This purchase did not add to the deficit. It was a pre-approved capital improvement project where the funding was allocated for those units. But it’s a replacement plan. The sheriff’s office has over 400 vehicles that we need to replace where they’re being used 24/7,” Ugarte said.

County officials said they are still reviewing final numbers from the last fiscal year and want the sheriff’s office to provide more information about overtime moving forward.

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