Commission works on Vernon County Sheriff's budget

Nevada Daily Mail

The Vernon County Commission brought out their red pencils and calculators once again Wednesday as they completed the first portion of the budgeting process with the 15th and final budget hearing -- this time with Sheriff Jason Mosher concerning the Sheriff's Office budget for 2015.

The Sheriff's Office includes nine individual funds, including training, federal seizure, United Way DARE and Vernon County DARE funds, inmate security, law enforcement restitution, discretionary and jail and sheriff revenue and expenditures.

With the added revenue from housing Greene County prisoners -- a transition that occurred gradually in finances over recent years -- the department increased its expenditures in 2014 by about $200,000 more than in 2013, but doubled their income, breaking the $1 million revenue mark for the first time in at least the last decade.

While discussing the sheriff's general fund, which had a revenue of more than $1.1 million, while spending just over $700,000, Mosher expressed the department's need for new vehicles as they currently have one Crown Victoria with about 170,000 miles on it and two 2007 Chevy trucks with more than 100,000 miles on them.

Mosher said he approached a dealership concerning the two trucks and they offered $17,000 in credit for trading in those vehicles.

Ideally, Mosher said he would like to get four vehicles for the department, which would leave the oldest vehicles 2012 models. However, he said he budgeted for the purchase or lease of two in 2015. Including the current lease payments of about $40,000 on department vehicles and the potential $17,000 in credit, two purchases would charge about $88,000.

"We prefer just buying them outright," Mosher said

The commissioners agreed, approving the $88,000 proposal to purchase two vehicles. Purchasing or leasing others would not be considered until later in the year. The newest vehicles would be used by active road patrol officers, while older ones would be used by officers who do not drive as much.

Eventually, the vehicles will have camera systems mounted in them, but Mosher said that will come at a later time as they wait for grants that would help fund them. Other radio equipment may already be provided along with the newest vehicles.

Mosher said they estimate the revenue of that portion of the budget to be just under $1 million with the expenditures at more than $766,000 in 2015.

In previous years, the discretionary fund included vehicle upkeep along with other items such as special tactics, fuel, training and miscellaneous items.

But because vehicle expenses such as new tires and other maintenance costs depleted that fund's dollar amounts so significantly, even using up all the special tactics budget in 2014, Mosher proposed they move that item into the sheriff's general fund. In return, he moved radio equipment, vests and training funds from the general fund into the discretionary fund.

The vests usually cost about $1,000 a year, but Mosher said several are getting worn out and may need replacing. He plans to reapply for grants that may pay for new vests. The department budgeted $9,000 for special tactics, $4,000 for fuel, $1,500 for pagers and cell phones, $3,000 for training and another $1,500 for miscellaneous items.

The discretionary fund started 2014 with more than $3,000 but ended the year with just over $800. Mosher said they expect the revenue and expenditures to both be about $19,000 in 2015.

The jail fund included some changes after the Sheriff's Office decided to hire their own cooks instead of contracting it out. The current contract will continue until May. Mosher requested they add three part-time and one full-time position to the one full-time employee they already have.

With the contract, Mosher said each meal had cost more than $1.20. By doing it themselves, they hope to cut the expense per meal by one-half.

Mosher also expressed a desire to raise the salaries for the jailers to become more competitive among other agencies. They currently participate in a supplemental program that provides an extra amount per month to those receiving less than $28,000 a year.

The Sheriff's Office requested $296,719.92 in the jailers' salary budget, above the $260,745.90 actual from 2014. Those employees will receive a 3 percent cost of living adjustment, as will all other county employees.

With the Greene County and other area prisoners, the Vernon County Jail houses an average of 90 to 105 prisoners daily, with about 65 percent of them brought in from other counties, although Mosher emphasized they never move Vernon County prisoners out to make room for other prisoners.

The jail revenue included a contract with Sheldon for $6,480 and $9,000 for transporting prisoners. The county receives reimbursement for transporting and housing prisoners from outside the county. The commission decided to add a $5,000 emergency fund to the budget as well in case more funding is needed for vehicle maintenance or other unexpected expenses.

The department requested $1,700 for the Vernon County DARE fund, $3,309 for the United Way DARE fund, $4,000 for training and none for the federal seizure fund. The inmate security fund expects expenditures to reach $34,800 while revenue brings in about $30,000. The Sheriff's Office expects the law enforcement restitution fund to virtually break even, with expenditures estimated at $32,500 and revenues $32,700.