Starke County Sheriff Bill Dulin and new Office Manager Pam McDonald presented the Jail CEDIT and Therapeutic Community budgets to the Starke County Council and Commission members Monday night.
Among the list of changes, Dulin raised the part-time jailer line item by $32,500 and overtime line items saw an increase. The budget for meals was also increased by $20,000.
Dulin is asking for two jailers, but said one would be a start. He also requested another patrolman. However, the commissioners have not approved the additional staff members.
Councilman Dave Pearman commented that he thought with the new jail it would be easier with less staff, but the sheriff said the number of inmates has doubled and the costs have doubled and the need is there for more staff members.
Commissioner Kathy Norem and Councilwoman Nancy Dembowski want a spreadsheet to show which line items are being increased and which are being reduced to get a better funding outlook. During a budget workshop earlier this month, the council cut nearly $200,000 from the sheriff’s department budget within the General Fund. The Jail CEDIT and Therapeutic Community budgets are separate.
Dulin said he’d work on getting the spreadsheets for the council and commissioners to review. He will appear at the next Starke County Commissioners meeting on Sept. 4 to request the additional staff.
