The sheriff told the Pratt County Commission that recruiting and retaining deputies has become increasingly difficult as surrounding agencies and cities have lifted starting pay. He said some neighboring departments now start new officers at $25 an hour and that the county’s pay scale is falling behind, creating a risk of vacancies that leave shifts unfilled.

The department told commissioners it has raised salaries where possible and absorbed operating efficiencies, but those measures do not compensate for market differences for certified officers. The sheriff said the department may need additional deputy positions or higher starting pay to stay competitive. He noted the county’s personnel line is the department’s primary budget concern and that medical insurance and other costs continue to rise.

Commissioners asked for specific options: raising starting wages, reallocating funds within the sheriff’s budget, or a supplemental appropriation. Staff and the sheriff agreed to return with cost estimates that show the fiscal impact of different pay scales, including the effect on overtime and vacancy rates. No formal action was taken at the workshop; commissioners asked for detailed cost models to evaluate whether the county could afford pay increases and how to phase any change into the 2026 budget.

Sheriff leadership also flagged the county’s need to monitor regional recruitment trends and projected insurance and equipment costs that could compound personnel pressures in coming years.