EL PASO, Texas – (KFOX14\/CBS4) \u2014 El Paso County commissioners are set to take up the El Paso County Sheriff\u2019s Office budget again on Monday, as county leaders raise concerns about spending, particularly overtime.<\/p>\n
County Judge Ricardo Samaniego said overtime is the driving concern. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt is increasing at a higher rate than we have a budget for, and there’s going to be a point where it’s going to be higher than what’s budgeted, and we’re not there at that point, but we’re trying to make sure that before it gets to that point, we address it,\u201d Samaniego said.<\/p>\n
The county\u2019s public safety sector, which includes the Sheriff\u2019s Office, spent about 47 percent of its budget through the first five months of the fiscal year. <\/p>\n
RELATED: Budget spending concerns prompt county executive session on sheriff operations, overtime<\/a><\/p>\n Overtime spending was cited as one of the drivers.<\/p>\n County leaders have said staffing at the Sheriff\u2019s Office is up to national standards, and that this is the first year the jails have no detention officer vacancies. <\/p>\n Even so, the county said it is working to address concerns with overtime.<\/p>\n In a statement issued Friday, county leadership said, \u201cWe have asked the Sheriff\u2019s 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.\u201d<\/p>\n Sheriff Oscar Ugarte also issued a statement Friday, saying, \u201cWhile current reports may indicate that staffing tables are \u2018full\u2019 with no vacancies, those tables have not been updated in several years to reflect the significant growth across El Paso County.\u201d <\/p>\n He added, \u201cOur goal is not only to meet minimum standards on paper, but to ensure we have the personnel necessary to operate safely, effectively, and sustainably.\u201d<\/p>\n Commissioners are expected to discuss the Sheriff\u2019s Office budget in both regular and executive sessions later today.<\/p>\n RELATED: El Paso County seeks more data on staffing, overtime as jail vacancies drop to zero<\/a><\/p>\n