Sheriff’s department asks Cole County Comission for additional personnel

The Cole County Sheriff’s Department is asking the county commission for additional personnel.

The commission met Thursday morning to discuss the budget for the upcoming year.

The department says its biggest issue this year has been the lack of staffing, therefore the proposal of new personnel for 2014 is vital.

The sheriff’s department is funded by a sales tax, which gives very little extra spending flexibility.

Because it is such a large department for Cole County, the budget is always complicated for the commission to approve.

“The sheriff’s department is a very large expenditure. It has its own dedicated revenue stream. Its very difficult to make sure we stay in line with that revenue stream,” said Cole County Presiding Commissioner Marc Ellinger.

The department is asking for three new full-time employees to the jail. One for transportation and two jailors.

“This is our opportunity to talk to them. Apparently during the work session, we’ll do some clarification, so that they can understand some of the issues with the jail particularly,” said Sheriff Greg White.

In addition to the jail, the department would like to change three part-time positions to one full-time and one part-time position. Raises for department staff are also a possibility with the proposal.

“You know, you always want salary increases for your employees. We’ll just have to wait and see,” said White.

Ellinger says they are sensitive to the departments wishes, but will only agree to a proposal that stays within the set budget.

“We will not go into deficit spending in that account. It has to balance. It has to balance for the long term,” said Ellinger.

The commission and sheriff’s department will continue to discuss the budget at a later date.

The budget presentations must be done by Dec. 31.