Sheriff's department to request mil levy

By Jennifer McBride Leader Staff

In 1997, the Lake County Sheriff's Department received 3,600 calls for service. A decade later, the sheriff's office is handling 14,000 calls a year — with the same-sized staff.

"This is not a new thing," Sheriff Lucky Larson said. "This community is just growing so much and we only get 'X' amount of dollars."

Because "X" is not enough, Larson is asking voters June 3 to give the Department another $988,960 with a 17.19 mil levy. Undersheriff Jay Doyle said a similar mil levy failed four years ago by a few hundred votes. If voters don't approve the levy, Larson said the department would have to "re-evaluate" some of the services offered.

The sheriff's department isn't the only one experiencing an increased call load. Lake County Dispatch received 1,500 calls for emergency services in 1997. In 2007, there were roughly 3,400 calls. And the sheriff's department has no budget appropriated for training 911 operators, who racked up $42,264 in overtime expenses last year. In 2007, the special domestic violence officer handled 300 felony cases, or on average almost one every day.

Training is also scant for police officers. The department reports that it budgets only $4,000 on training for sworn deputies, $2,000 for detention staff and nothing for Lake County's special response team, which responds to situations in progress, like hostage incidents. School resource officer positions will also run out of funding at the end of this school year.

There is no money currently budgeted for dive team and boat patrol training, either, or for equipment, reports the department. Despite the lack of funds, Larson said the office is already dealing with calls out on the water and expects to handle more as the summer begins.

Understaffing also leaves the sheriff's department spread thin. The department reports they spent $143,000 in overtime expenses for sworn deputies and $72,000 for detention staff. The same detention staff is handling more bookings as well. In 1998, the Lake County Jail booked 900 people while in 2007 the jail booked just under 1,600. Larson said the building is "bursting at the seams."

Because the sheriff's department offers less in terms of salary than other communities, Larson added that the staff turnover is high. Trained employees often move to Missoula or Flathead counties, where they can receive bigger paychecks. Sixteen staff left the Lake County Detention Center in the past 18 months, the department reported.

Another reported problem is the department's vehicles. Out of 26, 17 vehicles have more than 100,000 service miles on them.

"Our repair bills are unbelievable," Larson said. The department spent more than $40,000 on vehicle repairs last year. Rising fuel prices haven't helped the balance sheet. "Gas prices have been going ballistic," he said.

If the levy passes, the sheriff plans to hire three school resource officers, four patrol deputies, one 911 operator, one inmate transport officer, one detention officer and one detective. The department would also use the money for better training, new equipment and salary increases.

According to figures released from the department, the levy would cost a homeowner with $200,000 of assessed market value in their property about $69 annually, or 19 cents a day.

For now, the sheriff's department has been going around to community groups asking for support.

"If anybody has a large group or has questions about this, we can try and fit them on the schedule," Doyle said.