A lack of funding has led to an exodus of experienced deputies at the Mohave County Sheriff’s Office, which patrols one of the biggest areas in the United States.
The county Board of Supervisors is looking to provide relief in the upcoming budget. A recently passed tentative budget would raise property taxes to pump $4 million into the Sheriff’s Office this year.
But more taxes are rarely popular, and officials have floated alternatives.
County Supervisor Steve Moss wants to use cuts and shifts to come up with $1.5 million, which would give many senior deputies their first raise in years.
“It’s hard to keep deputies when they are understaffed, underpaid and overworked," Moss said. "It’s very hard.”
In May, the Sheriff’s Office had more than a dozen openings. Most of them have since been filled. But Sheriff Doug Schuster knows the key is holding on to experienced deputies.
“This is a big year,” Schuster said. “A lot of veteran deputies are waiting to see what’s going to happen. And if I can’t keep them, because we don’t get the funding we need, we’re going to be in dire straits.”
A funding increase, whether $1.5 million or $4 million, would also be used to add new deputy positions for the Sheriff’s Office.
The Board of Supervisors is scheduled to vote on the final budget in August.
