EL PASO, Texas – (KFOX14/CBS4) — El Paso County commissioners are again confronting a growing budget deficit at the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office from last fiscal year, now estimated at more than $7.5 million.
County staff presented updated figures showing the sheriff’s office deficit at $7.6 million as of Oct. 14, up from a nearly $6 million estimate reported earlier this month.
RELATED: El Paso County sheriff shifts staff to cut overtime after nearly $6M deficit
The presentation focused on ways to address rising overtime costs.
A primary driver of the deficit is the sheriff’s office salary and benefits budget, which was at about 108% usage as of Oct. 14, according to the presentation.
County staff are finalizing payrolls and are expected to return with a plan to pay off the deficit.
The sheriff’s office has pointed to staffing shortages and overtime — especially at the county jails — as causes of the deficit.
The presentation also outlined steps the county is considering, including more frequent budget check-ins with the sheriff’s office.
FULL PRESENTATION
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County staff said they are also looking for further direction on future budget amendments.
Earlier this year, commissioners approved a letter directing the sheriff’s office to stop authorizing any unbudgeted overtime.
If additional overtime is needed, it would have to be approved through a budget amendment showing where the funding would come from.
Also included in the presentation were two budget requests for planned DWI enforcement operations during Halloween and Thanksgiving.
While not formal amendments yet, the requests seek more than $20,000 for each operation.
Sheriff Oscar Ugarte has said the office is reassigning personnel to help address overtime costs.
Commissioners’ discussion on the updated deficit focused on direction, with no action being taken.
The final amount needed to cover last year’s overtime costs is expected to be finalized after payroll is processed.
RELATED: Sheriff’s projects nearly $6 million budget shortfall tied to overtime
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