EL PASO, Texas – (KFOX14\/CBS4) \u2014 El Paso County commissioners are again confronting a growing budget deficit at the El Paso County Sheriff\u2019s Office from last fiscal year, now estimated at more than $7.5 million.<\/p>\n
County staff presented updated figures showing the sheriff\u2019s office deficit at $7.6 million as of Oct. 14, up from a nearly $6 million estimate reported earlier this month. <\/p>\n
RELATED: El Paso County sheriff shifts staff to cut overtime after nearly $6M deficit<\/a><\/p>\n The presentation focused on ways to address rising overtime costs.<\/p>\n A primary driver of the deficit is the sheriff\u2019s office salary and benefits budget, which was at about 108% usage as of Oct. 14, according to the presentation. <\/p>\n County staff are finalizing payrolls and are expected to return with a plan to pay off the deficit.<\/p>\n The sheriff\u2019s office has pointed to staffing shortages and overtime \u2014 especially at the county jails \u2014 as causes of the deficit.<\/p>\n The presentation also outlined steps the county is considering, including more frequent budget check-ins with the sheriff\u2019s office. <\/p>\n FULL PRESENTATION<\/p>\n fbfa728f-1c35-4146-b53a-773c77c0e30bPDF previewPreview PDF<\/p>\n View PDF<\/a><\/p>\n County staff said they are also looking for further direction on future budget amendments.<\/p>\n Earlier this year, commissioners approved a letter directing the sheriff\u2019s office to stop authorizing any unbudgeted overtime. <\/p>\n If additional overtime is needed, it would have to be approved through a budget amendment showing where the funding would come from.<\/p>\n Also included in the presentation were two budget requests for planned DWI enforcement operations during Halloween and Thanksgiving. <\/p>\n While not formal amendments yet, the requests seek more than $20,000 for each operation.<\/p>\n Sheriff Oscar Ugarte has said the office is reassigning personnel to help address overtime costs.<\/p>\n Commissioners\u2019 discussion on the updated deficit focused on direction, with no action being taken. <\/p>\n The final amount needed to cover last year\u2019s overtime costs is expected to be finalized after payroll is processed.<\/p>\n RELATED: Sheriff’s projects nearly $6 million budget shortfall tied to overtime<\/a><\/p>\n