A countywide citizen advisory committee is balking at another $3.5 million for Summit County Sheriff’s Office in the 2025 budget.
That is a 20% increase over this year and by far the largest budget increase for any county department.
“Although this committee recognizes the good work being done by the sheriff’s department, other departments have also done good work in the last year,” committee members write in a recent memo to county commissioners. “The Sheriff’s 2025 Budget should be subject to the same budgetary limits that other departments face: that is, a flat budget with adjustments for inflation.”
A large chunk of that $3.5 million will go to raises and new staffing. That is one of the advisory committee’s biggest gripes. Members say local deputies are already some of the highest paid in the state. They also want the sheriff’s office to release an unpublished salary study.
Another gripe: No data to mandate such a hefty budget increase, committee members say.
“The committee met with the Sheriff (Jaime FitzSimons) and staff twice to ask questions and review data,” members continue in the memo. “The sheriff’s office was generous with their time and input but were unable to provide the data the committee requested.”
County commissioners meet with the advisory board on Tuesday, Oct. 28. You can tune in here.