EL PASO, TEXAS (KFOX14/CBS4) — El Paso County commissioners are pressing for talks with the sheriff and the officers’ association, approving a formal letter on Monday to address a budget shortfall in the Sheriff’s Department.
During Monday’s meeting, commissioners approved a formal letter asking for a discussion on how to fix the spending gap, warning that the department is spending through its budget too quickly.
The formal letter comes after a March budget presentation to commissioners showed the county’s public safety sector — which includes the sheriff’s office — had spent about 47 percent of its budget through February, about five months into the fiscal year.
Overtime spending was cited as one of the drivers.
County leaders have said staffing at the Sheriff’s Office is up to national standards, and that this is the first year the jails have no detention officer vacancies.
In a statement issued Friday, county leadership said, “We have asked the Sheriff’s Office to prioritize its requests, with a primary focus on core, statutorily required functions such as detention operations, while also providing context for initiatives that, while valuable, extend beyond those requirements.”
Sheriff Oscar Ugarte also issued a statement Friday, saying, “While current reports may indicate that staffing tables are ‘full’ with no vacancies, those tables have not been updated in several years to reflect the significant growth across El Paso County.”
He added, “Our goal is not only to meet minimum standards on paper, but to ensure we have the personnel necessary to operate safely, effectively, and sustainably.”
With more than half the year remaining, county leaders said they are exploring all options to keep the department from running out of money before the next funding cycle.
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